What are the national sports of India?
Hockey is widely regarded as India’s unofficial national sport due to its historical significance and past Olympic successes, even though it is not officially recognized as such by the Government of India. India’s dominance in hockey, particularly post-World War II, saw the men's team win multiple gold medals, establishing the sport's prestige. Although the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has clarified that India does not have an official national sport, hockey remains culturally significant.
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| The national sports of India |
At the moment, cricket has taken over as the most loved game in India, and it enjoys an extensive population in the country. Nevertheless, there are still their issues and as it has been up to the government, other games such as kabaddi and football among others, have been encouraged to promote other sports in the country. In India, the sport of hockey started gaining prominence in many places across the country owing to the British colonization of the country in the early 1900s. By the year 1928, India made its first appearance in an Olympic hockey tournament in Amsterdam, winning the gold medal, and thus commenced an era of superior performance that lasted for many years to come.
Key Highlights:
- 1928-1956: India bagged six Olympic gold medals in a row (1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956). This period also saw the iconic figure Dhyan Chand, known widely as the ‘Wizard of Hockey’ for his unmatched ability at the game. This was the golden age of Indian hockey when Indian hockey was at its zenith.
- 1964 & 1980: After that winning run, India bagged two more Olympic golds – in 1964 (Tokyo) and 1980 (Moscow). However, after 1964, competitive spirit developed from other countries, and India began to lose its hegemony.
- Decline and Revival Efforts: After 1980, the Indian Hockey team started losing its stature and could not even make it to the top spots of the major tournaments. A few years ago despite the embarrassment, the steps have been taken to restore the game and advance it as well – such as better training centers, establishing competitive leagues like the Hockey India League, and encouraging the sport from lower levels.
- Tokyo 2020: In the 2021 Olympics held in Tokyo, the Indian men's team won a bronze medal which was the first Olympic medal in hockey for them in the past 40 years. This achievement was a proud moment and a cherishing factor to the country’s sport. Besides the women’s team also created history by going to the last four, their rising prominence on the world stage.
Cultural Impact:
In Indian sports, crowding is a tradition, especially when it comes to hockey. Even though cricketers are now more in demand it has always served as a great source of national pride and aided the unity. Figures such as Dhyan Chand who are legends in their own right are worshiped for their skills and talent. In fact, National Sports Day in India is celebrated on his birthday, August 29 due to the great things that he achieved in his lifetime. The government and other bodies in charge of sports have not stopped funding hockey to ensure there are new players and the legacy of the sport is not hampered in India.
Famous players of hockey in India
India has made a rich contribution to the sport of hockey as there have been several hockey players across all the states who have displayed extraordinary skills within the sport.
- Dhyan Chand - He is also known as the ‘Hockey Wizard’ and is regarded for his amazing skills of faking the ball. He was also instrumental in India’s gaining Gold from the period of 1928 to 1936.
- Balbir Singh Sr - A true victor of three Olympic gold medals (1948, 1952, 1956) and an excellent goal-scoring forward, Singh still runs high amongst Indian hockey greats.
- Dhanraj Pillay - Dhanraj recognized for his pace and talent, has played for India in four Olympics together with aiding the team in the 1990s and early 2000s.
- P. R. Sreejesh - The man, who was the backbone of Indian men’s hockey winning the bronze medal at the recently concluded Tokyo 2020 games, is quick reflexes leadership and known as a cool head in the team.
- Rani Rampal - Acknowledged as one of the best forwards to ever play in the Indian women’s team, Rani Rampal has been able to take Indian women’s hockey to the next level with her performances, especially in the last few years including leading the team to the semi-finals of the Olympics for the first time in Tokyo.
These players have left their mark on Indian hockey and their successes have motivated their successors over the years.
Frequently Ask Questions
What is the significance of hockey in India?
Hockey is one of the earliest and most cherished sports in India and is often considered the de jure National Sports of India. Field hockey grew to be a popular sport in India in the early years of the 20th Century and attained the peak of winning six successive Olympic Gold medals from 1928 to 1956. The game is a matter of great pride for the nation and players such as Dhyan Chand, who is also referred to as the ‘Hockey Wizard’ are its proud vessels.
You can include a few names of popular Indian hockey players. Corroborate with Draupadi.
Indian hockey has produced several stars and two of them are Dhyan Chand, Balbir Singh Sr, and Dhanraj Pillay. P. R. Sreejesh and Rani Rampal are a couple of more recent stars who have played a major role in the progress of Indian teams and helped the men’s team win a bronze in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the women’s team coming fourth, which was historic.
How has Indian hockey progressed or changed over the years?
In the mid-20th century, Indian hockey was at its height, however, the introduction of artificial surfaces and the rise in competition worldwide led to a dip in achievements. However, there has been a revival in the last few years primarily thanks to government policy, professional leagues, and training starting to take place, and there have been several improvements as observed in the last Olympic edition.
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