Rio Olympic has been kicked off with due fanfare. Across the world people are looking forward to this carnival with their own perspective and view point. Different people have different expectations and concerns.
Most prevalent of all is that how Brazil would manage this extravaganza. The scepticism is rife as people are tentative about in-general capabilities of Brazil as a nation for handling such mega event, law & order in Rio and of course ZIKA is playing in mind too.
Indians though have different curiosity. From being extreme laggard at Olympics, India has shown some spark during past three games. In 2004, India begged first individual silver medal and then first individual gold in 2008. 2012 London Olympic was even better. Though India did not win a gold in 2012 but finished game with highest ever six medals, with two individual silver medals.
However, the fraternity believe that, these success stories are not good enough to provide due gratification to the nation of 1.2 billion. The act of redemption would remain incomplete unless India wipes out drought of a Hockey medal, which continues since 1980 and it remains a grim pain point.
After all, this is the game, where India won eight gold medals out of total nine. If you ask our generation about the most glorious sporting moments of India, the immediate response would be 2011 World Cup Cricket triumph, 2007 T-20 World Cup victory, Abhinav Bindra’s Gold at 2008 Olympic or may be all those doubles Grand Slams by Leander, Bhupathi and Sania Mirza in Tennis.
Ask the same question to any sport junkie of previous generations (or generation of our grandfather); prominently the answer would be heroic of Indian Hockey Team at Olympics. It was unprecedented. India won six Olympic gold medals in men hockey in a row during 1928-1956.
Indians were undisputed best, like Brazil was in football during fifties/sixties or say Australia in Cricket during 1995-2010. It is almost a folk fore now that how Hitler got mesmerized by playing skills of great Major Dhyanchand in 1936 Berlin Olympics. After 1956, India won gold again in 1964 but subsequent to this, decline started. Indians could not match the changing techniques, which crept into the game thick and fast. With introduction of Astro Turf, game became extremely quick and Indians lost out the summit position to the western world. India’s last gold was in 1980 Moscow Olympic but that was not as worthy and coveted because US and allies boycotted the game and
India won amidst truncated competition. Notwithstanding this, 1980 gold gave game a good amount of boost. As a kid, I remember that hockey was quite popular during early eighties. 1982 Asian Games deserves a mention here, which was hosted by New Delhi. India played Pakistan in the final of men hockey at National Stadium, Delhi. The match stirred tremendous craze and whole nation watched it anxiously (it was live telecasted on Doordarshan). India awfully lost to Pakistan by 7-1 and whole nation went into mourning. Meer Ranjan Negi was the goalkeeper of Indian team, who later inspired Bollywood movie “Chak De India”.
1980 was India’s last Hockey medal at Olympic. In 1984 Olympic, India had a very strong side. In fact few months back, I got chance of having interaction with M.M. Somaya, who was part of Indian Hockey team in three Olympics during 1980-1988. He was captain of the side in 1988 Seoul Olympic.
Somaya opined that 1984 side has been one of strongest Indian Hockey side ever. Yet team narrowly missed the semi-final berth due to a colossal mistake, committed by Zafar Iqbal in the last league match against West Germany. Zafar had ball under his control and he was in front of the unguarded German goal post. He just needed to push the ball inside post to send his team into the last four, but Zafar missed out. India eventually finished fifth.
After 1984, there is nothing much to talk about. India could never make it to the last four ever since. They hit the bottom with 12th position in London 2012.
Every Indian hockey fan is now anxiously waiting for whether this long haul will come to an end in Rio. Many believe that it is very well possible this time around. In sports, it is said that you are as good as your last performance and this is where Indian teams strikes a chord. India has finished second in recently concluded Champions Trophy. Champions Trophy is like mini World Cup.
The environment is changing as far as Indian Hockey is concerned. Concept like HIL (Hockey India League) has given right impetus to the game in India over the past few years. Game is getting clean with less political interference and affiliation.
Current squad which is playing under the captaincy of keeper P R Sreejesh is perfect blend of youth and experience. Experienced players like Sardar Singh and V R Raghunath would be key players for India and their performance would be the main critical success factor for the team. Apparently the current Indian Hockey squad looks most formidable side after 1984 Los Angeles Olympic.
It has been 36 years when Indian Hockey team finished at podium in Olympics. None of these players was even born at that time. Before each Olympics, Indian fan hopes for medal but it is this year that team stands a genuine chance, which perhaps is best ever in past three decades.
Let’s hope that 2016 would be ‘CHAK DE’ moment for Indian Hockey team at RIO.