India’s hockey journey is a tale of past glory and a quest to reclaim lost glory. Once hockey’s undisputed king, India failed to win any major honors for decades. However, the recent resurgence is an indication that Indian hockey can reclaim its lost glory. The Indian national hockey team won six consecutive Olympic gold medals from 1928 to 1956. Led by the legend Dhyan Chand, who is regarded as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of field hockey, that golden period of Indian hockey inspired subsequent generations. In 1970, when synthetic turf was first introduced in the game, it marked the beginning of a tough phase for Indian hockey. The Indian team struggled due to inadequate infrastructure, sponsorship issues, and many other challenges. Additionally, with the emergence of strong European teams, it became increasingly difficult for India to win any major trophy.
The Road to Revival
The movie “Chak De! India” was immensely important in helping Indians reconnect with the game. The beginning of the Hockey India League (HIL) in 2013 provided a stage for domestic talents to rub shoulders with international players. Furthermore, the Government of Odisha and the CM of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik, played an important role. From sponsoring the team to taking care of the players and providing infrastructure and synthetic turfs, they did everything possible to help. The most significant moment was the Indian men’s team securing third place at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. It was India’s first Olympic hockey medal in 41 years. Although the women’s team didn’t win, they showed great determination. In the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Indian men’s hockey team secured the bronze medal again, an epic feat to win back-to-back Olympic medals. Captain Harmanpreet Singh and goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh played pivotal roles in India’s resurgence. After this year’s Olympics, both the Indian men’s and women’s teams became champions of the Asian Trophy. The Women’s Asian Champions Trophy was hosted in Rajgir, Bihar, India, and it was a proud moment, demonstrating how well it was organized. All the traveling teams and their supporters were highly impressed with the experience.
Despite recent successes, Indian hockey still faces several challenges. The future looks promising but more grassroots initiatives from the Sports Authority of India (SAI), such as “Khelo India,” will particularly help nurture young talents in rural areas. Also after a hiatus Hockey India League(HIL) is back starting from December 28, 2024. With more young talent emerging and support from both the government and private sponsors, Indian hockey is bound to achieve greater heights. The goal is not just to win medals but to dominate the game of field hockey.
“My aim is to bring glory to my country, not to myself.”
— Major Dhyan Chand
