Five years ago he suffered a stroke and has been paralysed since then. “Dad was paralysed after suffering a stroke five years back. He used to walk with a stick but since the last couple of months, his health deteriorated and this morning he left us,” his younger son V P Singh told PTI.

“His last rites will be performed today after my sister reaches Una from Delhi,” V P Singh said.

He lost his wife 12 years ago. While the eldest son is a doctor in Canada, the younger son was with him when he took his last breath. The only daughter of Mr Singh is married and based in New Delhi.

Singh, midfielder and two-time Olympian was remarkable in the fields. He was a part of team India during its glorious days in the Olympics. He led the team in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, defeating Pakistan in the final and participated in the Indian team in Rome Olympics, 1960, where India claimed silver.

He was an alumnus of Col Brown Cambridge School, Dehradun and Panjab University. After his acclaimed career in international hockey, he served as the Director of the Physical Education Department in Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. 

Singh was a devoted hockey player and still had memories of the Rome Olympics where India lost by a delicate 0-1 margin against arch-rival Pakistan. Four years later, under his captaincy, India defeated Pakistan and clinched gold in the Tokyo Olympics.

Recollecting the fond memory in the lead-up to last year’s Tokyo Olympics, Charanjit had told Hockey India Flashback Series: “Both the teams were regarded among the strongest teams during that time, and we had a very challenging outing against them (Pakistan).

“Moreover, you know how intense it becomes when you play against Pakistan that too in the final of the Olympics. The match was also interrupted briefly to cool down the tempers of both teams.

“I told my boys to focus on the game, rather than wasting time talking to them. We were tested hard but also showed great character, and won the match by a narrow 1-0 margin to return home with that historic gold medal.”

“Winning two medals for the country has been a moment of pride and honour for me. You know, after winning the gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, we were accorded a warm welcome on our arrival at the airport, a lot of fans had assembled, and it was a very special feeling for every one of us,” the eminent further shared. 

“Hockey was a very popular sport in India. It was given more importance because of the rich history, and our country had dominated in this sport in early years. We had won many gold medals at a prestigious event like the Olympics, and that was the key reason behind it.” 

“He was a legendary halfback who inspired an entire generation of players. He was a very cool-headed captain and he will forever be remembered for his incredible skills on the field and for his humility off the field,” Hockey India president Gyanendro Nigombam added.

The post India mourns the demise of Hockey eminent Charanjit Singh first appeared on The History Book of Indian Hockey.

Lalremsiami, 21, was part of the national women’s team that stood fourth at the quadrennial games. In a mettlesome match for Bronze, the team in blue fought bravely against defending champions Great Britain but lost 3-4. 

She will arrive at her home state on August 25. And a grand welcome is being planned for her on August 26 at Vanapa Hall, Aizawl, shared Lalsangliana, states sports director. 

For her outstanding performance, the north-eastern state government had announced a reward amounting to 25 lakh, of which 10 lakh is being paid to her mother Lalzarmawii on June 24. Rest 15 lakh cash incentive, job appointment letter and others will be handed over to the hockey star during the function, added sports director. 

CM Zoramthanga took to Twitter to make the announcement. 

“Proud to announce that Govt. of Mizoram has approved the appointment of Ms Lalremsiami, National Hockey Player and the only Olympian from Mizoram at the Tokyo Olympic 2020 to the post of Chief Coach (Hockey) Group-A post under Sports & Youth Services Department,” he tweeted. The post is similar to the assistant director rank.

The state government had also allotted a plot measuring 691.85 m² in her hometown Kolasib, which borders Assam, belongs to the Land Resource & Water and Soil Conservation Department. 

Lalremsiami has set the benchmark by becoming the first female olympian from the sports-loving state. She’s also the second state representative at the Olympics after archer C Lalremsanga, who represented the country at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympics. 

The post Olympian Lalremsiami appointed as chief coach by Mizoram government first appeared on The History Book of Indian Hockey.

Hockey, however, is the game where India has shown its dominance for a long time ago. Claiming a maximum of eight golds in the Summer Olympics, India has reserved its spot at the top of the game. It all began in 1928 when the Indian men’s team won their first gold at the Olympics. This continued until 1956 with India earning six consecutive golds in the Olympics. By that time the national time made 178 goals and relinquished just seven. The air was in favour of India and of all the 25 matches, India claimed victory in all.

But facing Pakistan in Rome (1960), India saw its first defeat. India was unbeaten in 30 consecutive matches and scored 197 goals while giving away only eight. A new history was written.

Let’s walk through the outstanding matches played by team India and securing the top position in field hockey.

Dhyanchand was remarkable in Amsterdam

India set its foot in the Olympics in 1928. In the Amsterdam games, the world was introduced to the magic of Dhyanchand. At that time, the country was under British rule. It played a distinctive match, scoring 29 goals and conceding none. Beating the host Netherlands in the final India won its first gold. 

Dhyanchand, an eminent player, had scored 14 goals in total with two being scored at the final in the tournament. 

“Legend has it that the Dutch officials took his stick apart to see if there was a magnet hidden inside it! One newspaper report described it thus: ‘This is not a game of hockey, but magic. Dhyan Chand is, in fact, the magician of hockey,” stated in a report on Olympics.com.

An exceptional feat in Los Angeles

The noted player Dhyan Chand once again amazed the fandom in Los Angeles Olympics (1932). Observing his ace performance Los Angeles Times titled him the “best athlete” of the Olympic Games. It was a minor event with only three teams playing and Europeans missing the event. 

India achieved a record win beating the host USA 24-1. Chand and his brother Roop Singh scored 18 and bashed Japan 11-1 claiming second gold in the Olympics.

Posters were up to watch the greatest of all time in Berlin 

Germany hosted the summer Olympics in 1936. Posters were all up over the capital flashing: “Visit the hockey stadium to watch the Indian magician Dhyan Chand in action.”

Under the captainship of stout-hearted player, Chand, the team was considered by some as the greatest squad of all time. Although the beginning wasn’t very exciting, team India, however, managed its win by beating the host in the final.

“Dhyan Chand scored six goals in the 1936 Berlin Olympic final. This despite losing a tooth after a collision with German goalkeeper Tito Warnholtz. Dhyan Chand returned to the field after seeking medical attention and in the second half, he reportedly played barefoot to run faster,” reported  Olympics.com.

Representing an Independent country

The 1948 Olympics, held in London, was epoch-making for India. For the first time, the team is going to represent an independent India, not a country under the British raj. Excited to march the tricolour flag, they knew it wasn’t going to be an easy match as two dominions, India and Pakistan, are going to face each other on the podium. 

The most respected hockey player of Modern India, Balbir Singh Senior, made India win by defeating its former colonial master on the podium. India won by 4-0 and sealed another Gold. 

“As our national anthem was being played and the tri-colour was going up, I felt that I too was flying with the flag. The sense of patriotism that I felt was beyond any other feeling in the world,” said late Balbir Singh at the Chandigarh Press Club, as quoted by the Scroll.in

Another Gold by scoring at the right time in Helsinki

In 1952, administrative interventions vitiated the team build-up for Olympic Games for India. This time Helsinki was chosen to host the most anticipated games.

KD Singh Babu, captain, and his men faced hardships to adapt to the conditions in Finland.

“Nanaji (grandpa) told me that the team would draw the curtains at all times and even used bedsheets to block out the light and make an entirely dark room to be able to get some sleep,” Kabir Singh, Balbir Singh Sr’s grandson, is quoted as telling the Olympic Channel.

The beginning of the tournament wasn’t very exciting but India, like always, managed to rise at the right time. India beats Great Britain 3-1 in the semi-final. Balbir Singh Sr. scored the second of his three Olympic hat-tricks. The last day match was spectacular with Balbir Singh scoring five goals in the final, record goals in the final which remains unbeaten till today, and defeated Netherlands 6-1 to win their fifth consecutive medal.

Balbir Singh stunned everyone in Melbourne

Till now India installed itself as the greatest of the game. This time Balbir Singh led the squad in the Melbourne Olympics (1956). Securing its sixth gold in the games, team India once again was unequalled in the event.

It did not turn over a single goal in the entire tournament, only after the  1928 Olympics.

The final was played between India and Pakistan. With one dominion defeating its former part, India crowned itself preeminent in field hockey. Balbir Singh had not played in any of the Indian hockey team’s matches since his injury.

The post Hockey India: A Magnificent history with maximum Golds in the Olympics first appeared on The History Book of Indian Hockey.

Datt is considered to be one of the finest hockey players in India. He was in the national team in London Olympics, 1948, where India bagged the gold medal. Four years later he was elevated to vice-captain position and the national team claimed another gold in the Helsinki games.

His attendant, Dolly Bairagi, confirmed the news of his demise. Bairagi confirmed age-related ailments being the reason for his death. The nonagenarian was under medical assistance for the past few days.

Datt is survived by two sons and a daughter.

He was born in Lahore in 1925. Grew up in western Punjab city, Datt came into the limelight while representing the team in the National Championship in undivided India. He moved to Bombay after the partition of India and in 1950 moved to Calcutta. In the National Championship, he represented Bombay as well as Calcutta.  Datt was coached by Hockey legend Dhyanchand and KD Singh Babu.

The post Hockey legend Keshav Datt bid farewell at 95 first appeared on The History Book of Indian Hockey.