Hockey has always been a special sport for India. The Indian Men’s Hockey Team captain, Harmanpreet Singh, is regarded as one of the modern legends of the game. He draws inspiration from India’s historic 1948 London Olympics win, where the team defeated Great Britain 4-0 to claim the first gold medal as an independent nation.
Harmanpreet recalled, “Winning the gold in London was massive, especially defeating Great Britain on their turf. Listening to stories from our seniors about that day inspires me greatly as a player.” He has previously interacted with Balbir Singh Sr, a key member of the 1948 team, learning about their experiences and the roaring support of the British crowd.
At the 1948 Olympics, India defeated Austria, Argentina, Spain, and the Netherlands before winning against Great Britain. Harmanpreet emphasized that the team aims to reach higher at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, hoping to hear the National Anthem played for India once again.
“Hockey and India share a rich history. Our goal is to win the ninth Olympic gold. With our seniors’ blessings, we will give our best on the field,” Harmanpreet said. Hockey India plans to share more stories from legends to celebrate the sport’s century-long contribution to the country.
