Reviving the glory: India’s pursuit to reclaim hockey’s throne on the global stage

By Aarav Lugani

The game of hockey was once a source of national pride, giving rise to some of the greatest players and magical moments in Indian sports history. It held unbreakable records, with the first-ever non-European team securing its inaugural Olympic Gold medal and maintaining an unbeaten streak in the Olympics, clinching 6 Gold medals, 1 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals, setting a world record. From 1928 to 1956, a determined group of men, armed with wooden sticks curved at one end, dominated the world stage, conquering all opposition.

After a setback in the 1960 gold medal final, India experienced a resurgence in 1975 and 1980, securing Gold once again and establishing itself as one of the most successful teams in Olympic history. Every four years, over a billion Indians still hope and pray for their hockey team to clinch a medal at the Olympics, a feat achieved eleven times before.

In 2021, the Indian team reached the knockout stage in the Olympics for the first time in 36 years, providing a glimmer of hope. However, it is evident that India’s “Golden Age” of hockey has passed. As of 2018, the Indian team was ranked 5th in the world. It wouldn’t be inaccurate to proclaim that “Singh is Hockey’s King,” as the game’s origin can be traced back to the Indian Punjabi game called “Khido Khundi”. The most common surname among Indian hockey players is Singh.

A foreign journalist aptly noted, “Singh initiated the move. After dodging past a defender, Singh passed the ball to Singh, and Singh scored the goal with a reverse flick.” Despite the significant contributions of legendary players like Dhyan Chand, Udham Singh, Dhanraj Pillay, and Balbir Singh Sr., hockey in India has lost some of its former glory. The fan base for hockey is not as substantial as it should be, primarily due to the cricket obsession in the country.

To revive the sport’s prominence, there is much work to be done, including improving players’ diet and fitness, increasing media coverage through print, electronic, and social media, and the allocation of adequate funds and facilities by the Government of India. A collaborative effort is needed to promote and enhance our national game, hockey, and usher in a new era of success.