Read on Twitter
Dhyan Chand, the greatest sportsperson in Indian history was born on this day, 1905.
There are many fascinating tales, some true, some false, some well publicised (meeting Bradman, for example), some not.
+
There are many fascinating tales, some true, some false, some well publicised (meeting Bradman, for example), some not.
+
Here, I shall cover the 1932 tour in brief to demonstrate the struggles the team went through.
His autobiography is out of print, by the way, the last time I checked. So much for us being a sporting nation.
+
His autobiography is out of print, by the way, the last time I checked. So much for us being a sporting nation.
+
In 1928, India had won their first Olympics gold medal in field hockey, in Amsterdam.
They had won all 5 matches, scoring 29 goals and conceding none.
That they would participate in the 1932 edition at Los Angeles seems a given, right?
Wrong.
+
They had won all 5 matches, scoring 29 goals and conceding none.
That they would participate in the 1932 edition at Los Angeles seems a given, right?
Wrong.
+
Remember, this was also an era when, amidst political unrest, finances were hard to come by.
Imagine this. No finances for the gold medallist side.
Indian Hockey Federation President AM Hayman and Honorary Secretary Pankaj Gupta left no stone unturned.
+
Imagine this. No finances for the gold medallist side.
Indian Hockey Federation President AM Hayman and Honorary Secretary Pankaj Gupta left no stone unturned.
+
They even approached Gandhi.
One approval might have opened a few doors, but all he got was a question: "What is hockey?"
The Indian royal families were not very keen on hockey either.
Remember, this was also the year when India played their first ever Test match, at Lord's.
+
One approval might have opened a few doors, but all he got was a question: "What is hockey?"
The Indian royal families were not very keen on hockey either.
Remember, this was also the year when India played their first ever Test match, at Lord's.
+
Hayman and Gupta eventually secured a loan from Punjab National Bank.
IHF went ahead, though they were way off the target.
How to cover the cost?
Hayman and Gupta laid down a few rules.
+
IHF went ahead, though they were way off the target.
How to cover the cost?
Hayman and Gupta laid down a few rules.
+
- players would not get the £2 allowances a week after leaving LA
- they would return via Europe, where they would play as many matches as the management wanted them to
- before leaving and on return to India, they would have to travel at night and play at selected venues
+
- they would return via Europe, where they would play as many matches as the management wanted them to
- before leaving and on return to India, they would have to travel at night and play at selected venues
+
Harsh? Yes. But we must keep into mind that
- nobody else funded them, and
- how can the gold medallists miss an Olympics?
Now began the fun.
They won 10-0, 8-2, 6-1, 6-1, 3-1 (abandoned midway due to rain), 3-1, 7-4 on Indian soil.
+
- nobody else funded them, and
- how can the gold medallists miss an Olympics?
Now began the fun.
They won 10-0, 8-2, 6-1, 6-1, 3-1 (abandoned midway due to rain), 3-1, 7-4 on Indian soil.
+
Then, en route their 42-day voyage, 21-0 and 10-0 in Ceylon; and 22-0, 16-0, 5-3, and 11-0 in Japan.
Only three teams participated in the 1932 Olympics – India, Japan, and hosts USA.
India thrashed Japan 11-1.
Japan then beat the USA 9-2.
+
Only three teams participated in the 1932 Olympics – India, Japan, and hosts USA.
India thrashed Japan 11-1.
Japan then beat the USA 9-2.
+
USA now had to beat India by a colossal margin.
As things turned out, India won 24-1, and that was that.
Gupta took this opportunity to appeal to the Indian expatriates.
Another $200 was raised for the team.
But let alone the tour, even the USA leg was far from over.
+
As things turned out, India won 24-1, and that was that.
Gupta took this opportunity to appeal to the Indian expatriates.
Another $200 was raised for the team.
But let alone the tour, even the USA leg was far from over.
+
They took the long train journey to the East Coast.
Sleepers were expensive, so they played matches en route.
At Philadelphia, a near-strength USA had it so bad that they asked Indian reserve goalkeeper Arthur Hind to stand for them in the second half.
India still won 20-1.
+
Sleepers were expensive, so they played matches en route.
At Philadelphia, a near-strength USA had it so bad that they asked Indian reserve goalkeeper Arthur Hind to stand for them in the second half.
India still won 20-1.
+
Once in Europe, they had to play nine matches in a fortnight (remember the deal?).
This included full-fledged internationals, against Netherlands, Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary.
+
This included full-fledged internationals, against Netherlands, Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary.
+
After reaching Colombo, the fatigued squad won 8 of their remaining 10 matches in Ceylon and India, and drew 2.
The final deficit of Rs 3,000 was covered by Hayman.
India played 37 matches in all.
They scored 338 goals (9.1 a match) and conceded 34.
+
The final deficit of Rs 3,000 was covered by Hayman.
India played 37 matches in all.
They scored 338 goals (9.1 a match) and conceded 34.
+
Dhyan Chand scored 133 of these (39%).
If he had played all matches he would have scored 3.9/ match.
He certainly played less, so the rate was higher.
He also almost got kissed by a local woman at Prague, and got away only because he kept on insisting that he was married.
+
If he had played all matches he would have scored 3.9/ match.
He certainly played less, so the rate was higher.
He also almost got kissed by a local woman at Prague, and got away only because he kept on insisting that he was married.
+
He recalled these matches in his trademark matter-of-fact way in his autobiography.
Example 1:
After beating Japan 11-1 in the Olympics: "I cannot explain why and how the lone goal was scored against us."
Example 2:
He rued beating Hungary by "only five goals".
Etc etc.
+
Example 1:
After beating Japan 11-1 in the Olympics: "I cannot explain why and how the lone goal was scored against us."
Example 2:
He rued beating Hungary by "only five goals".
Etc etc.
+
Dhyan Chand was a genius. He achieved so much – in national colours or otherwise – that there should have been a library of books on him by now.
The numbers are out there (not all numbers) to check, as are accolades from across the world.
We have largely forgotten the man.
+
The numbers are out there (not all numbers) to check, as are accolades from across the world.
We have largely forgotten the man.
+
I wish I could know more about him.
I want to, but the information available is frustratingly less.
All we have in 2020 in a India is a day when people who have never met him "remembers Dhyan Chand".
Give him the Bharat Ratna, please?
I want to, but the information available is frustratingly less.
All we have in 2020 in a India is a day when people who have never met him "remembers Dhyan Chand".
Give him the Bharat Ratna, please?
