Origins of Hockey
The origins of hockey can be traced back to ancient civilizations, with various cultures playing games involving a curved stick and a ball. Traces of a stick game played by Aztec Indians of South America have been found.
A crude form of the sport was played in Egypt some 4,000 years ago. Modern hockey was born in 1876 in the United Kingdom. The game’s first rules were drafted followed by the establishment of the first clubs, Blackheath Club and Teddington Hockey Club.
Hockey in India traces its roots back to the British colonial era, with the game introduced by British soldiers in the late 19th century. The sport gradually became the popular sport of choice among the children and youth of India. The country’s first hockey club was established in 1885 in Kolkata. This set the stage for the growth of the sport in our country.
Formation of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF)
Though the Britishers introduced the sport, we Indians mastered it. Hockey slowly popularised in the country with some national competitions like the Beighton Cup (Calcutta) and the Aga Khan tournament (Mumbai) being held. The sport gained momentum and increased participation from people, especially in cities like Mumbai and Punjab. India’s tryst with hockey began in the 1920s.
The India Hockey Federation (IHF) was formed in 1925. The IHF organized its first international tour in 1926 to New Zealand. The Indian Men’s Hockey team played 21 matches in this tournament and won 18 of them. This tournament saw the rise of a young talent, Dhyan Chand, who would go on to be arguably the best hockey player the world had ever seen.
Golden Era
The IHF earned its membership in the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in 1927. This ensured that the Indian Hockey Team would play its first Olympics in 1928. The national team won its first gold medal at the 1928 Olympics. This victory marked the beginning of an unparalleled era of dominance. India went on to win six consecutive gold medals at the Olympics from 1928 to 1956.
Famously known as the ‘Wizard of Hockey’, Dhyan Chand, played a pivotal role in these victories. Dhyan Chand played his last Olympics in 1936. No Olympics were held after that due to World War II. The Olympics came back in 1948 which saw the rise of a new star, Balbir Singh Sr. He played a pivotal role in the 3 gold medals the national team won at the games.
In the golden era of Indian Hockey, the team won a total of 8 Olympic gold medals. A record that still stands strong even today. The Hockey Women’s Team went international in 1974 when they appeared at the inaugural Women’s Hockey World Cup in 1974. The Women in Blue finished fourth in this tournament.
Period of Stagnation
The 1980s and 1990s saw a dip in the dominance of Indian Hockey. The sport faced challenges in the country as it struggled with administrative issues, lack of infrastructure, and the rising popularity of cricket. It was difficult and took time for the Indian Team to get used to the astroturf. During this period the men’s team won only twelve medals (two gold, seven silver, three bronze) and the women’s team won only five medals (one gold, two silver, two bronze) across various competitions. Local players were still playing on natural grass fields. Gold medals at major tournaments came down to silver, bronze, or no medals at all. The overall performance across these international tournaments was inconsistent.
Resurgence and Renewed Hopes
The turn of the 21st century brought renewed focus on reviving Indian Hockey. The government and the sporting authorities made investments in grassroots development, better training facilities, establishment of the Hockey India League in 2013. This led to the resurgence of the sport. This increased the financial support from not only the government but also from private institutions.
The Hockey India League provided a platform for domestic players to compete with international stars which led to the enhancement of their skills and provided them with good exposure. Initiatives were taken to promote hockey at the school and community levels. The men’s team a gold at the 2014 Asian Games and they also won the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy.
This signaled the return to a competitive form. The crowning achievement of this resurgence came at the 2020 Olympic Games when the men’s team won a bronze medal, their first Olympic medal in over four decades. The women’s team also made headlines by reaching the semi-finals, showcasing the growth, strength, and potential of Indian Hockey.
Achievement of the Indian Men’s and Women’s Hockey Team
Both, The Indian Men’s and Women’s Hockey teams have made a mark on the international stage. The men’s team has won a total of 56 medals and the women’s team has won a total of 25 medals at major international tournaments.
Olympics Games
At the Olympic Games, the men’s team have won a total of twelve medals (eight gold, one silver, three bronze).
World Cup
At the World Cup, the men’s team have won three medals (one gold, one silver, one bronze).
Asian Games
At the Asian Games, the men’s team have won sixteen medals (four gold, nine silver, three bronze) and the women’s team have won seven medals (one gold, two silver, three bronze).
Asia Cup
At the Asia Cup, the men’s team have won ten medals (three gold, five silver, two bronze) and the women’s team have won seven medals (two gold, two silver, three bronze).
World League
At the World League, the men’s team have won two bronze medals.
Pro League
At the Pro League, the men’s team have won one bronze medal and the women’s team have won one bronze medal.
Champions Trophy
At the Champions Trophy, the men’s team have won three medals (two silver, one bronze).
Asian Champions Trophy
At the Asian Champions Trophy, the men’s team have won six medals (four gold, one silver, one bronze) and the women’s team have won five medals (two gold, two silver, and one bronze).
Commonwealth Games
At the Commonwealth Games, the men’s team have won three silver medals and the women’s team have won three medals (one gold, one silver, one bronze).
Hockey Series
At the Hockey Series, the women’s team have won one gold medal.
Nations Cup
At the Nation’s Cup, the women’s team have won one gold medal.
Even though India does not have a national sport, Hockey was considered to be one looking at the success of the nation in the sport. The evolution of Indian Hockey is a tale of glorious highs and challenging lows. As the sport continues to grow, the legacy of Indian Hockey’s golden era inspires new generations to strive for greatness.
With continued support and development, the future of Indian Hockey looks promising, and the nation can hope for many more moments of pride and triumph on the world stage. We will surely return to world dominance in the sport.
Stay tuned on ChakDeBharat for more sports updates.
1 comments on “Hockey: Introduced by the Britishers, Mastered by Indians”