National Symbols Of India

National Sport

Hockey- National Sport of India

It is true that cricket has gained more popularity in Indian subcontinent but hockey is national sport of this country. Indian hockey players have brought eight Olympic Gold Medals in India to make it proud post winning on many occasions. Ironically an RTI filed recently exposed unique thought that India hardly had national game against the claims made by the Indians about hockey game. Many new modern sports facilities have arrived in the country after big sports event in 1982 while country’s capital Delhi hosted the Asian Games. All those games having been included in the international sporting agenda and several new initiatives have taken place to increase popularity in all spheres.
India is country where too many games are played in the present circumstances. Some prominent games of such kinds are kabbadi, pehlwani, kho kho and gilli-danda amongst others. The British had too much contribution to bring several new sports in the country that are football, cricket, rugby union, shooting, golf, tennis, field hockey, squash, boxing, billiards and snooker et al.

Hosting as well as cohosting many international sporting events keep India ahead and promote sports events. Some of them are Asian Games held in 1951 & 1982 respectively; Cricket World Cups in 1987 and 1996; Afro-Asian Games of 2003; Hockey World Cup, 2010; Commonwealth Games of 2010 and Cricket World Cup of 2011 which collectively make this country sports centric. Several sports events on global levels and annual events constantly held in metropolitan cities of India like Chennai Open, Delhi Half Marathon, Mumbai Marathon and Indian Masters et al. First Indian Grand Prix at Buddh International Circuit in India’s Uttar Pradesh state’s Greater Noida is first of its kind as huge Indian motor racing event.

Continuously held since 1924, India’s National Games remains prominent domestic sports event in India. Being launched in 2008, Indian Premier League remains important sports event held in the country every year. Forbes magazine described IPL as richest sporting league after NBA to stand at the second position.

History

Historically speaking, roots of hockey game relates to ancient civilizations of the world. It is considered one of those games that remain oldest in human history with existence for more than twelve centuries and relates to Ancient Olympia Games in history. This game has remained common in many cultures and civilizations from Arabs, Greeks, Romans, Persians and Ethiopians who practiced its multiple versions. Approach was twofold as few considered it a game for recreation while good number of players assumed it would turn them warriors with more capabilities. Field hockey—the modern version came into practice in the British Isles during 19th century and remains popular although other versions remained impeccably important for centuries.

British Army regiments introduced hockey in India as popular English school game in this country. Indian natives found it interesting so it became popular in India in least possible time. Both India and Pakistan have popularized hockey although it is an international game in present perspective. In fact the London Hockey Association boosted this game more when standardization of this game had been set for further popularization. Once International Hockey Federation (FIH) was formed in 1924 it paved the way for the International Federation of Women’s Hockey.

Hockey in India

It was in 1885-86 that first hockey club was setup in Calcutta to popularize it in the Indian subcontinent. It was followed by Bombay and Punjab clubs. By 1928, hockey made its Olympic debut with Amsterdam Games in which India’s hockey players made the history with winning first Olympic gold that too without surrendering any goal in the game. The magic of the then Indian hockey legend Dhyan Chand created the history with callous domination in the game played. His dazzling skills enchanted huge Amsterdam crowd then. The Indian hockey team won six more Olympic gold medals from 1928 to 1956 with distinction of winning 24 consecutive matches in that period. Indian score was 178 goals yielding 7 out of them all.

That era remained best one in the history of Indian hockey when it showcased charismatic performance with dominance on world level. Few prominent hockey players came into limelight in that period. Balbir Singh is one such hockey player who emerged on that time. Interestingly five Indian players of the same name came into scene in three decades time period. Balbir Singh I had opportunity to play with several exceptionally talented Indian teams from 1948, 1952 and 1956 for rewarding performance. It was in Helsinki in 1952 that he attained big success through scoring five goals in a 6-1 gold medal win over the Netherlands to create history. Later Indian hockey champions witnessed presence of rest four Balbir Singh named players.

Once Pakistan defeated India in the Rome Olympics in 1960, the domination of this country was almost over from the Olympic hockey gold since then. Although Indian hockey team have failed to maintain that pace and couldn’t retain its Olympic position but its previous records are definitely unbeatable and are going to be remembered for years. Other countries have hardly attained such position yet and have in fact never ever come nearer to such positions. Some of the icons of Indian hockey game who as the legendary left impeccable mark are Dhyan Chand, K.D. Singh, Dhanraj Pillay and Dilip Tirkey et al whose name imprints in mind due to outstanding performances. Their exceptional gaming techniques and unmatched enthusiasm made Indian hockey a hallmark.

India at Major National Events

It was in 1900 that India had its debut participation in Olympic Games in which athlete named Norman Pritchard won two medals in athletics category. By 1920, India sent a full-fledged team for participation in Summer Olympic Games and since then it maintains participation without any fail. Record of India’s participate in multiple Winter Olympic Games since 1964 is notable. This country has already won 20 medals in Olympic Games by now. It was during 1928 Olympic Games that a gold medal came in India’s kitty in Men's field hockey category. In the category of individual gold medal winner, name of Abhinav Bindra is the first to win such gold medal at Olympic Games. His win is also first post 1980’s field hockey gold win of India in men’s category.

An interesting fact about India is that it is one of the few countries in the world which won only selected medals in Olympic Games although it already has more than one billion population and out of which approximately half are aged below 25 years. Issues related to it are so many including factors like various types of scarcities, poverty & malnutrition issues, vegetarianism culture, least infrastructure availability, no interest in sponsorship, corruption aspects and politicization of games besides disorganization and immobility in society and last but not the least giving more importance to cricket game.

As per various data procured as informal information, India remains a country with least Olympic medals as compared to rest countries in the world calculated as per capita source and compared with winners of at least one medal in any capacity.

There were 4 consecutive representation of India in Winter Olympic Games that included participation in Nagano in Japan in the year 1998;  USA’s Salt Lake City in 2002; participation in Italy’s Torino in 2006 and in Canada’s Vancouver in 2010 in which current Asian Champion Shiva Keshavan made India proud.

Field Hockey Rules & Regulations

Group of eleven players each played by two teams out of which five players remain in reserved category, hockey game is truly exciting and is played in a rectangular field comprising of 100 × 60 yard or 91.4 m × 55 m area. A 7 feet goal is in each end with 2.14 m and 12 feet or 3.66 m wider area besides 16 yard semi-circle connecting goal which remains key shooting circle. It is denoted with D or arc where 5 yard lines are dotted through semi-circle adjustment besides other lines across 25 yards or 22.9 m field in the end-line as well as field center. A 7 yards or 6.4 m spot named penalty spot or stroke mark is also there located from each goal’s center.

Both the teams maintain similar objective to play the ball into goal for their point score besides making best efforts to keep the opponents away from making any score. Winner teams are those who make maximum goals post two 35-minute halves.

A toss of  coin indicates the beginning of this game. The winning captain has choice to begin with the ball or starting end as liked. Two equal halves comprising of 35 minutes each are the game times in hockey matches besides additional five minutes indicating half-time calculation. Game starts with a pass from the field center upon each start of half and while scoring goals. Players are supposed to begin with the defensive half while there is flexibility for choosing to play in any of the directions preferred. A ball in one half indicates beginning each team while possession for the start is for the team accepting goals.

The face of the stick is pivotal for the field players to play hockey. There is permission for tackling until there is no contact between the tackler with attacker and in those situations while stick is used prior to playing ball. Complexities are still there like there is no permission of deliberate use of body while player playing with the ball for the purpose to push defenders to keep away in the game.

Returned to play with sideline hit is common phenomenon while ball passes over sidelines. Any team member can take especially those whose players were still not the last to keep control over the ball by a touch prior to sideline crossing. In case there is crossing of backline post last attacker touch it would be 15m hit as awarded for the attacks during the game.