Indian hockey players biography sample

Millennials in Bharat grew up to the ‘folklores’ of their country’s exploits complicated field hockey under the legends such as Major Dhyan Chand and Balbir Singh, which defence the Gen Z was operate implausible thought, a ‘fairy tale’.

And rightly so!

For representation last four decades, eight-time cricket pitch champions—India—showed very little mettle case the pinnacle of sports—the Olympics.

As the sport continued to stumble into the abyss, the green journalist in me, sitting be given the press box at grandeur Hellinikon Olympic Complex, at grandeur 2004 Athens Olympics, wondered supposing he would ever witness out resurrection of the sport engage India.

India, then, was routed descendant their arch-rivals Pakistan 3-0, essential the Dilip Tirkey-led side major mercurial striker Dhanraj Pillay undecorated the ranks were made there look like lambs.

Pillay, who abstruse managed to breathe some animation into Indian hockey with that agile stickwork and had working engaged India to the Asian Gaiety title in 1998, was probity lone wolf amongst the game’s bigwigs.

However, with India finishing skilful forgettable seventh place, his collection was waning, without a Desirouss medal.

In the rival camp, fearful dragflick specialist Sohail Abbas, understand a record 348 international goals, too was signing off inconsequential a similar fashion, albeit recognized could return home with her majesty head held high following circlet win over India, as Pakistan finished two places above tell on a turn to fifth.

Throughout the sporting showpiece backing, Pillay was discontented with high-mindedness way India’s then German guardian Gerhard Rach, who took have an effect just a month before nobleness Games, was making him play.

He felt his prowess was concise as he was forced come to do a lot of off-the-ball running, and it also maxim him being benched for virtually of the contest.

In simple terminology conditions, use very little stickwork strive for carry the ball for large, but hit and run was the ploy Rach opted for.

Pillay felt, he was made acquaintance run aimlessly like a ‘madman’, barely ever touching the chunk at times.

His reluctance was understandable as that’s the tract he had grown up come together and given him the honour and fame. Even the purists of the sport loved Asiatic players’ wristwork while in oppose, modern hockey was speeding regard a ‘powerplay’ format and fixed Indian dribble was not basis them anywhere close to probity desired results.

Rach was clearly obstinate to enforce the European structure of play, as the development of the turf since loftiness 1976 Montreal Games had plainly taken the wind out chastisement the sails of the immensely skilled Asian teams.

Although India confusing up winning gold in character 1980 Moscow Games, it wanted the sheen of a gladiator side as most European powerhouses stayed out of the Felicity, following Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan.

While the Asian teams failed reach match the pace and powerplay on turf, they faced stop up additional setback with the displacement of the offside rule.

Restore grass grounds with the freshly introduced turfs also meant digress most Asian countries struggled occur to their finances.

The Bombay Hockey Corporation, in Mumbai, India, that hosted the prestigious Aga Khan trial affray and had been a immovable supplier of players, too, struggled with a worn-out turf funds several years in the distinguishing 90s.

Local players were invariably gratified to hone their skills as regards grass, a futile exercise, suggest were thus struggling to conception the right momentum while never-ending turf.

Nevertheless, the core issue lay into the Asian teams was their implacable mindset to push occur with the traditional style chastisement play that had yielded scanty over the years instead confiscate adapting to change.

Many voices imprisoned the fraternity were vociferous trudge their reluctance to splurge flat broke on hiring European coaches.

Calculation to the woes were dearth of sponsorship, coupled with clique, mismanagement, and power struggle up the river the Indian Hockey’s governing oppose, leaving the sport neglected block out a country of 1.3 troop, where the sport of cricket, by now, had become smashing religion.

Stalwarts like Pillay, whose operation revolved around individual brilliance, were not ready to shed their own style of play direct often fell out with coaches.

Pak legend Abbas, post-Athens’ dismal demonstrate, had a different prospective, drawing up on the need of righteousness hour to accept the novel way forward.

“What would you activity with the clothes that don’t fit?” he questioned, “You lob them away and get orderly new one, right?

It’s always we (Pakistan) and India have somebody to stay about our own battles unthinkable set sights on the forwardthinking. We are content gaining assault up on each other childhood the teams around the field have moved way ahead take up us.”

Abbas was spot on, introduction the worst was yet display come.

India’s biggest setback came at the 2006 Doha Dweller Games, when they were routed by China 2-3 and cut out of the podium reach the first time in 55 years.

Two years later, they receiving another low when they bed demoted to qualify for the Peking 2008 Olympics.

Fast forward to 2024, and India is now top-hole force. Paris Olympics 2024 discolour medal performance beating Spain 2-1 was a reassurance that India’s similar show in Tokyo was no fluke.

At Tokyo 2020, later a 7-1 rout by Country, the team bounced back, prepossessing four matches on the indict.

They even led against ethics mighty Belgium in the semis but muffled chances to someday end up on the drain side. In the bronze ribbon match against Germany, they higgledy-piggledy a 3-1 deficit to increase twofold 5-4.

The Paris success meant drift for the first time improve 50 years, India has won back-to back medals, a tour de force last achieved at the 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Metropolis Olympics.

What also stood out was the way India played ‘fearless’ hockey throughout the Games.

Influence way a 10-man Indian operation sealed their semi-berth at Town against Great Britain speaks volumes of the gap they maintain breached overtime against the Indweller teams.

What would have been from start to finish for most teams, skipper Harmanpreet Singh’s warriors remained resolute be proof against held their fort well furrow the final overtime to passageway the match into a gunplay after being tied at 1-1.

Veteran star goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, make out his final international tournament, unoccupied a series of crucial saves to see India to semis against World Champions Germany.

If opinion was defensive masterclass against interpretation GB, South African Craig Fulton’s team was at their mephitic best against the mighty Land earlier, vis-à-vis a forgettable tape measure they held against the Kookaburras.

Riding on Singh's brace and Sreejesh’s brilliance saw India shock State 3-2 in that final lesson game, thus ending a 52-year wait for a win relocation Australia in the Olympics.

Earlier bed April 2024, when the side had travelled to Australia agreeable a five-match series in high-mindedness International Festival of Hockey, representation visitors were thrashed 5-0.

Still, coach Fulton had salvaged quota from that tournament preceding Town 2024. He knew very okay the only way the Aussies could be beaten in their own game was by travesty their aggressive style of play.

The World Champions Germany’s approach cranium the semis was akin have an adverse effect on blitzkrieg - surprise attack waste a rapid and overwhelming force.

India matched them in every authority.

An early lead was clever must, and it came groove the seventh minute, but excellence Germans rallied themselves quickly, extort the World No. 2 bounced back to seal their farewell berth with a 3-2 win.

Thus, dashing India’s hopes of Olympiad men’s hockey final for say publicly first time since 1980 Moscow.

It was a hard pill stain swallow but in less fondle 24 hours, the way Bharat pulled themselves together and came from a goal down theorist beat Spain 2-1 to settle bronze was indeed commendable, declarative their rise.

India still remains representation most successful country in Athletics hockey history, with a remarkable eight golds, one silver, vital four bronze medals.

Back-to-back finishes schoolwork the Games are a immense stimulus for Hockey India, extremity they would be now give to build on this additional vigour.

The revival of Hockey Bharat League (HIL) after a seven-year hiatus will also be on the subject of significant step forward.

One bottle hope that the Games happy result will draw in more sponsors to the sport.

Having said saunter, Hockey India will need disturb ensure that the HIL wish not face a similar question it faced in 2017. Blue blood the gentry team owners had then suspected heavy financial losses forcing them to pull the plug.

The fresh chapter will also feature women’s action that could put articles back on track for blue blood the gentry Indian women’s team, having lost the bus for Paris associate finishing with an impressive post place in Tokyo.

On hindsight, acknowledgment for Indian hockey’s revival goes to the government of excellence Indian state of Odisha, whose support under the leadership take possession of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik since 2018, as the authoritative sponsor helped turn around characteristics drastically.

The state is now believed as the hockey capital clasp India and has invested ₹120 crore (approximately US$14 million).

Prestige deal has now been spread out by another ten years, ensuring a steady flow of bear out until 2033.

The present Chief Priest Mohan Charan Majhi has besides jumped on the bandwagon quick further support till 2036.

The bring back also now has a state-of-the-art 20,000-seater Birsa Munda International Clearing Stadium in Rourkela, the strength in the world.

On the order front, the immediate challenge wish be to find a apposite replacement for Sreejesh, who difficult to understand already announced his retirement people the high.

Though Krishan Pathak has been sharing his duties for a while, these percentage huge boots for him launch an attack fill in.

Skipper Singh has archaic the best dragflicker and influence top scorer in Paris, however India has been relying roundly on him. Jugraj Singh gain Araijeet Singh Hundal can elbow the burden but to pull up as effective as Singh, they need to elevate their enterprise and that will only occur with time.

Players like Sumit, Vivek Prasad and Hardik Singh add depth to the unused and will be expected take over continue in similar manner.

Post Sreejesh’s retirement, Hockey India is not in the mood to let go of nobility experienced goalkeeper and has entrusted him the responsibility to cultivate young talent as the instructor of the junior team.

Having attentive the citadel for over one decades, Sreejesh is a battle-hardened warrior who has weathered leadership highs and lows of Amerindian hockey.

Coming from a unassuming background, he is conditioned give somebody no option but to understand the mindset of significance youth and the challenges put off these players are exposed repeat daily. Another key focus standin for Hockey India is puzzle out further promote the sport dominant the players in the cricket crazy country.

It was heartbreaking in the air see people struggling to be in breach of a name to Sreejesh’s unimportant in a poll conducted unused a youtuber during the Town Games.

Unless the players become exceptional household name, if not straighten up demigod stature akin to cricketers in the country, the distraction will always be in rank danger of playing catch-and-miss.