There might be a perplexity regardless of whether field hockey is the national game of India or not. But there is no uncertainty about the great history of this game. And time and again, some of the greatest Indian hockey players have proved the extravagance of the game to the world.
Also Read: Moments in Indian Hockey that make us Proud
Indian Hockey: Past & Present
Once there was a brilliant time for Indian hockey. They governed worldwide until the mid-1970s and won the record number of eight Olympic gold medals which is as yet unbeaten.
The country with some of its top Indian hockey players also won its debut men’s Hockey World Cup held in 1975 and was the first non-European group to be a part of the International Hockey Federation.
Despite being pushed back at the fifth spot in the World rankings, India has created some of the best hockey players. These Indian hockey champions have caught the consideration of the viewers with astonishing stickwork, mazy runs, splendid defending and their goalscoring prowess.
Let’s take a rundown to 7 of the best Indian hockey players the country has ever produced:
1Dhyan Chand
Indian field hockey player Dhyan Chand is viewed as the best field hockey player ever and furthermore the best competitor in Olympic history. India was the most overwhelming group in Hockey during career span and won three Olympic gold medals from 1928 to 1936.
Dhyan Chand scored in excess of 1000 goals from 1926 to 1948 and was nicknamed “The Wizard.” Because of his unfathomable abilities, the Netherland’s specialists once broke his stick before a match to check if there was a magnet inside the hockey stick!
Dhyan Chand was awarded Padma Bhushan by the Government of India. To pay him respect, Vienna sports club raised the status of him with four arms and four sticks.
Interestingly ‘Chand’ isn’t a part of his name. As he used to rehearse in the moonlight after his duty hours at the Army, his team players called him ‘Chand’ which is a Hindi translation of ‘Moon’.
Dhyan Chand passed away on 3 December 1979.
