Chak De India

Chak De India

FPJ BureauUpdated: Thursday, May 30, 2019, 01:40 PM IST
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BACK IN TIME…

When Dhyan Chand’s India thrashed Hitler’s Germany 8-1 “Man, he scores goals like runs in Cricket.” Sir Don Bradman .

The Berlin 1936 Olympics, a crowd of 40,000 that included the Maharaja of Baroda and a large number of Indians who had travelled from all over the Continent and England.

The audience included Adolf Hitler, and top Nazi officials like Hermann Goering, Joseph Goebells, Joachim Ribbentrop and others. The huge crowd cheered both the teams as they entered the field. In a patriotic note, the Indian team raised the tricolour in the dressing room and sang Vande Mataram an Indian nationalist song, rather than the British national anthem, which they were obliged to sing. And the team was ready and all set to go for the kill.

In India’s first match on August 5, they played Hungary and won 4-0. Then, August 7, in good weather and ground conditions, India played USA and thrashed them 7-0. India then played Japan on August 10, and beat them 9-0.

Meanwhile, Germany had whipped Denmark 6-0, beat Afghanistan 4-1 and in the play-offs, beat Holland 3-0.

Thus India and Germany were to clash in the 1936 Berlin Olympics hockey final. The hockey world was about to see Dhyan Chand in one of his most memorable and mesmerising displays on the hockey field.

Packed with thrilling incidents, the final had the vast crowd at the edge of their seats. The Germans undercut and lifted the ball in a game played at a very fast pace. Twice India’s Dara tried to score but was off-side on both occasions. Germany had been successful at stopping the Indian forwards and it was becoming very difficult for the Indians to score.

It was clear that the first goal scored would be important. And, In the 32nd minute, Roop Singh scored from a difficult angle after getting a pass from Jafar. This was the only goal India scored till half-time. During the break, Dhyan Chand huddled his team together and congratulated them on their play so far. He cautioned them that the one goal lead was very small, and that Germany could equalise anytime. The Indian team got into their rhythm in the second half. Dhyan Chand scored in the opening minutes of the half. India then scored a barrage of goals – four in five minutes to seal the fate of the match.

As the ground was still slippery due to the rain, Dhyan Chand discarded his spiked shoes and stockings and played with his bare feet and rubber soles. It was the incredible stickwork of Dhyan Chand that had the crowd gasping. The way he moved with the ball, as if it was stuck to his hockey stick, puzzled all those who were present.

A newspaper described Dhyan Chand’s game as “a flick of the wrist, a quick glance of his eyes, a sharp turn and then another turn, and Dhyan Chand was through.” After India had scored four goals, Germany finally opened its account off a rebound from goalkeeper Richard Allen. This was the first goal conceded by India in the Olympic tournament. It would be the only goal they would concede.

After the sixth goal scored by India, the Germans decided to go after the Indian captain. The German players started to play aggressively and go for rough tackles on Dhyan Chand. The German goalkeeper even broke one of Dhyan Chand’s teeth in a clash.

After receiving first aid, Dhyan Chand came back to the field and instructed his team not to score any more goals. “We must teach them a lesson in ball control,” he told his team.

Dara and Dhyan Chand rounded off the tally in the last few minutes of the game to make the final score India 8 – Germany 1.

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