Page 19 - CONNECT 2023-24

Hockey

The National Sport of India

- Brijesh H. Dasani

Hockey is considered India’s national
Women’s Hockey
game because it is one of the oldest sports
The Indian Women’s Hockey team is
played on the subcontinent soil. It was
popularly known as the Nabhvarna; meaning
given the stature of the national sport by
‘new colour’. The etymology seems apt as
the Indian Hockey Federation in 1925. The
the team has brought a new color of energy,
first international hockey tour for India was
interest, and joy among sports lovers across
played against New Zealand with 21 games
the nation.
out of which India won 18 matches.
The Indian Women’s Hockey team was the
inaugural gold medalist at the 1982 Asian
Men’s Hockey
Games. And their performance has been
Between 1928 and 1956 the Indian Men’s
consistently at a competitive level ever
hockey team won six consecutive gold
since. Their best performance so far in the
medals at the Olympics. Due to its major
Olympic Games came in the 1980 Moscow
success at various global tournaments,
Summer Olympics where they finished just
hockey is at the heart of India’s sports
shy of the bronze medal tally in 4th position.
dominance around the world.
The Navbharnas have won a total of 7 Gold,
The team has won eight gold medals, one
7 Silver, and 10 Bronze medals so far across
silver medal, and three bronze medals in the
different global tournaments including Asian
134 matches played by India in the history
Games, Commonwealth Games, Nations
of the Olympics winning a staggering 83
Cup & Asian Champions Trophy, etc.
matches out of the total. The latest inclusion
to the medal tally was at the Tokyo Olympics
Conclusion
of 2020 with a bronze.
With the huge heritage of hockey, the
heartiest home for the game, and numerous
Appearances:
legends of the sport emerging from the
Olympic Games: 21 times; Champions: 8
country like Major Dhyan Chand, Suraj
times World Cup: 15 times; Champions: 1 time
Lata Devi, Dhanraj Pillay, Sandeep Singh
Asian Games: 18 times; Champions: 4 times (also famously known as ‘Flicker Singh’), PR
Asia Cup: 11 times; Champions: 3 times Sreejesh, and many more legends in the
making, the future of this livid sports in India
Indian Men’s Hockey team ranks 3rd in the
hold many promises and opportunities for
International Hockey Federation’s Rankings
the loyal fans of the sport to say “Chak De
only behind the Netherlands and Belgium.
India!”

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