The Mexico 1968 Olympics marked the first major step in the shift in power with regard to the fortunes of the Indian hockey team.
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As history stands testimony, India, for the longest time was the undisputed king of hockey. With gold medals at every Olympic Games, the Indian hockey team was undoubtedly the best. However, as time flew by, internal politics, groups, and ego clashes tore the team apart. And as the game started spreading its wings in Europe and Asia from the late 1950s, things really changed.
India’s stranglehold continued for a few more years as they won a silver medal at the 1960 Olympics. And four years later, they regained their slipped medal in Tokyo. The Mexico 1968 Olympics marked the first major step in the shift in power.
Everything on the face of it ahead of the Mexico 1968 Games looked on track. However, a closer look revealed some serious issues in the Indian hockey team as the Olympics drew closer.
Having beaten Pakistan for the 1966 Asian Games gold in Bangkok, the quality of the Indian hockey team was unquestionable. With three to four players available to play for each position, India looked ready for Olympic gold.
This included as many as three Balbir Singhs in the squad. The unique blend didn’t create any confusion since they got on pitch together only at the bronze-medal play-off.
Moreover, the 1968 Games in Mexico City was special for Sansarpur, a village in Punjab. With as many as seven players from the hamlet competing at the Games. Two of the Balbir Singhs along with Jasjit Singh, Tarsem Singh, and Ajit Pal Singh featured for the Indian hockey team. Jagjit Singh and Harvinder Singh represented Kenya.
A significant downfall was seen after the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) decided to appoint the experienced Prithipal Singh as the captain. This decision did not go well with the Olympic-bound team.
Gurbux Singh was leading India for the majority of the Olympic cycle. The team was divided following the national federation’s decision to snub the full-back just ahead of the Games.
The Pakistan-born Gurbux Singh made his disappointment public. This forced the IHF to name joint-captains for the Olympics for the first time in the team’s history.
The tension in the team was clearly seen and a jolt to the team spirit was evident in the way India performed at the Games. Add to this the complacency, the Indian hockey team was in for some serious test at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Indian hockey team got off to a disappointing start against New Zealand, losing their first-ever game in the group stage of the Olympics.
Shaken by the result, the team regrouped and went on to record back-to-back wins to top the group and made it to the semi-finals.
The only match that India played to its standards was the one against Mexico as they pummeled the debutants 8-0 and against Spain, they won 1-0 but only after goalkeeper Muneer Sait stopped a whopping 12 penalty corners.
“And we did not have face masks or chest pads those days,” Muneer Sait told the Sportstar.
Meanwhile, their tie against Japan was awarded to the Indians 5-0 after the Japanese walkout in protest of a penalty stroke awarded against them in the 55th minute.
The visible weakness of the Indian team was truly exploited by Australia in the semi-final. Having played India in the past, the Aussies tweaked their game plan and force them into making mistakes. India played into the Australian trap and was helpless and the Aussies threaten the Indian goal. This proved costly for the side as Australia clinched the match in extra time to make it to the maiden final. It relegated India to the bronze medal playoff match for the first time.
Hurt by their semi-final loss, the Indian hockey team came out roaring in the play-off to beat West Germany 2-1. Returning home with the bronze medal.
“We could only win the bronze”, Muneer Sait summed up. “This remains my biggest disappointment.”
Pakistan won the gold medal after they beat Australia 2-1 in the 1968 Olympic hockey final to become champions for the second time at the Games.
