Field Hockey In India
By: Phoebe Donofrio-Ralls
History
Field hockey is dated all the way back to the Greek era. It was similar to the gaelic sport hurling. The name "field hockey" first appeared in England. It appeared in the 14th century when King Edward III said no "leisure sports" by the working class. The sport wasn't played again in England until after Elizabeth British Empire. It was played in schools and began to challenge the other sports such as rugby and soccer in popularity. When the British Empire expanded, the British army brought field hockey with them. Then the sport expanded other places and was later put in the summer Olympics. The first field hockey club was in England called Blackheath HC.
Dhyan Chand
Dhyan Chand was an incerdible field hockey player in India. He started to learn to play when he joined the army. He was taught how to play by British army officers. He, along with the rest of his team, led India to three gold medals in the Olympics. People were so awed by his playing that they began to question him. They thought that he had done something to his stick. It was later taken apart to see if there were magnets or glue inside. Dhyan Chand was such an amazing player that a statue was built of him that has four arms and four sticks.
Dhyan Chand playing field hockey.
Did You Know?
Did you know that India's team had 5 players named Balbir Singh, one played on the team that one 6 Olympics gold medals.
India's Field Hockey Clubs
India's first hockey club was in Calcutta in 1885. Other clubs came in Bombay and Punjab. India first participated in the Olympics in 1928 at the Amsterdam Olympics. At their first time playing in the Olympics, they won a gold medal. From 1928 to 1956, India won six gold medals! India's team also won 24 consecutive matches and scored 178 goals. India finally lost in the Olympics in 1960 at the Rome Olympics. At that Olympics they were beaten by Pakistan in the final round. But, no other country has beaten India's record. Now, field hockey is the most popular sport in India, loved and played by many. India has a men and womens field hockey team.
This picture shows the Olympic field hockey team of India standing at the podium where they are placed at the number one spot.
Did You Know?
Did you know that drawings of men playing a somewhat simpler version of field hockey were found in tombs. The tombs were found in Nile Valley, Egypt.
Citations
"Where Field Hockey Began." Athlete Scholorships. 2001-2013
<http://www.athleticscholarships.net/history-field-hockey.htm>
"Dhyan Chand Profile." Indian Online Pages.
<http://www.indiaonlinepages.com/sports/hockey/players/dhyan-chand.html>
"History of Hockey in India."I Love India.