India will full 75 years of Independence this yr. Here's a collection acknowledging 75 nice sporting achievements by Indian athletes. Sportstar will current one iconic sporting achievement every day, main as much as August 15, 2022.
India's Olympic hockey gold in 1952
July 24, 1952: India gained the Olympic Hockey Championship and in flip retained the world title. It beat Holland decisively by six targets to 1 within the last performed on the Helsinki Olympic hockey floor, Finland.
The match was a private triumph for Balbir Singh, the Indian centre-forward, who scored 5 targets.
The Indian ahead line moved in accordance with a rigorously ready plan, which was brilliantly executed by skipper Ok.D. Singh 'Babu' and Balbir.
Balbir Singh Sr., who scored 5 targets in that match, in motion on the Helsinki Olympic Video games of 1952 - THE HINDU ARCHIVES
After being fully outclassed within the first half, when their sturdy techniques paid no dividends, the Dutch within the second half determined to satisfy polish with polish, science with science.
This transformation in mode of play instantly paid wealthy dividends within the type of their solely objective of the match, scored by their inside-left R.T. Esser. His shot was as spectacular as that of Babu's.
READ | A day with the hockey legend Balbir Singh
When the ultimate whistle went up, 5,000 thrilled spectators rose to present a hearty cheer as India had struck gold for the fifth successive time.
The match was watched by then India's Minister to Finland, M. Desai and his spouse.
Flags of India, Holland and Britain went up, whereas the band performed India's Nationwide Anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
(Excerpts from an article first printed in The Hindu in 1952)
