This year, i.e., on November 7, Indian hockey celebrated its centenary year

If there is any sport in India after cricket that has witnessed immense success, including a World Cup victory and Olympic medals, it is Indian hockey. Hockey has been part of India since pre-independence days, and India was once a dominant nation, beating opponents from various corners of the world—most of this happened under the Indian Hockey Federation, which was formed on November 7, 1925.

As the year comes to an end, here’s a recap of India’s major achievements in hockey since 1925.

Olympics

(Credit- Olympics.com)

Indian hockey’s first major victory came at the 1928 Olympics, when the team won all its games, including a 3-0 win against the Netherlands in the final, to secure its first-ever Olympic medal. Since then, India has won seven more gold medals at the Olympics, along with one silver and four bronze. The Men in Blue’s last gold medal was in 1980, whereas bronze medals were secured in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.

World Cup

In the World Cup, India’s golden period in hockey was between 1971 and 1975. The team constantly improved, finishing third in 1971, then runner-up in 1973, and finally lifting the World Cup trophy in 1975, eight years before India lifted its first cricket World Cup. Unfortunately, while cricket was widely celebrated and became India’s major sport, hockey never received the same level of attention.

(Credit- Olympics.com)

The team had defeated archrival PAK by a scoreline of 2-1, with the winner coming from Ashok Kumar’s stick.

Dominance in Asia

India has no dearth of success in Asia. The team has constantly won medals at the Asian Games, Asia Cup, and Asian Champions Trophy.

At the Asian Games, the team has four gold, nine silver, and three bronze medals. The Men in Blue have also enjoyed success in the Asia Cup, winning four gold, five silver, and two bronze medals. In fact, this year the team added its fourth gold medal, ending an eight-year medal drought.

Moving on to the Champions Trophy, the team won its first medal, a gold, in 2011. Since then, it has won four more gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal.

As the year comes to an end, this article should serve as a reminder that other sports in India do just as well as cricket but aren’t supported enough. With the new year waiting on the horizon, we hope the public mindset will change, and it will take part in other sports, helping India grow into a true and global sporting giant.