The Incredible Journey of Field Hockey in India

The first non-European team that become a part of the International Hockey Federation was the India national field hockey team. National Field Hockey team won its first ever Olympic gold medal in the year 1928. With this win, their winning journey continued till 1960 when they were defeated in the final gold medal match in 1960. The team also grab the 1975 World cup. India is the most successful team in Olympics, by winning eight Olympics gold medals till date.

Their 2014 Team, who qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics after winning gold at the Asian Games, is ranked as sixth in the world. The Indian men's team won its first ever silver medal in Champions Trophy tournament against Australia in 2016. In the same year at Rio Olympics 2016, the Indian men's team reached the knock-out stages of the hockey.  There are two parts of Field hockey in India the India men's and women's national field hockey team. A new five-member national selection committee has been appointed by the Indian Olympic Association. The panel will work in accordance with the International Hockey Federation and manage all issues relating field hockey in India.

The panel was headed by Aslam Sher Khan, who is the former hockey captain and it also includes Ashok Kumar, Ajit Pal Singh, Zafar Iqbal and Dhanraj Pillay. Aslam Sher Khan has recently been appointed as the chairman of the national selection committee. After the success of World Series Hockey by Indian Hockey Federation, Hockey India has decided to start their own league for field hockey in India.       

By: Anita Aishvarya

Content: Wikipedia.org