WITH real stories bordering almost on mythical standards, with tales of mesmerising quality, with a legacy worth its weight in truck-load of gold, Indian hockey has kicked off centenary celebrations across the country. The celebration is full of a sense of gratefulness for the fighters of yesteryear who carried Indian hockey on the dint of remarkable grit. Despite meagre facilities, despite poor recognition, they kept the Indian flag high in the globe, dominating the hockey turf like emperors of the world. The celebration India is enjoying today is a revered bow to those Olympians as much as it is sowing of seeds of a new dream.

 

The last hundred years have seen hockey living a roller-coaster ride in the country. From the highs of consecutive gold medals in Olympics to being pushed to the corner by its cousin cricket, Indian hockey has rode many troughs and crests. Presently, it is on a redemption journey with two consecutive bronze medals in Olympics. Hope has sprouted afresh. The golden luster might be around a new corner, the country feels. As one goes down memory lane to pick the high points of Indian hockey, the journey takes a swift drive for almost over four decades till it meets the 1980 Olympic gold in Moscow. It was the last silverware for Indian hockey. The period before that is where hockey thrived on scintillating brilliance of India’s wizards. They ruled the world, sometimes bare feet, sometimes with inferior quality shoes but never short of the soul of a daredevil.

 

There have been matches where Indians would simply brush aside their opponents even as the world would look for something fishy in their hockey sticks. Such was their magical hold on the stick that they almost commanded the ball as their servant. These moments still form the highlight of Indian hockey as it completes a glorious century. The magical triumph in the 1936 Berlin Olympics is one such moment that needs to kept for posterity and inspiration for the new generation of players. The Dhyan Chand-led team had an assembly of some legendary players including Roop Singh, Ahmed Sher Khan, Sayyed Jaffar. They were expected to complete a hat-trick of gold medals after winning it in 1928 and 1932. But the start was disastrous as they lost two practice games before heading into the main draw. It was the most vulnerable moment which could have broken Indian hockey’s spirit.

 

What transpired later was of mythical significance. The losses touched a raw nerve in the team and they came out like wounded tigers ready to devour anyone coming in their way. It was a message for hosts Germany and their leader Hitler that no one in the world should take India lightly. That triumph changed the course for Indian hockey. It led to more glorious chapters for almost four decades. As Indian hockey celebrates 100 years, the fans seek the same magic of 1936. History beckons, again.