First Game Of Hockey

The 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, when India won the gold, was the country's first step towards ascending the hockey throne. It was at the insistence of the newly-formed Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) that the sport was included in the programme after a break of eight years.

When hockey made its Olympic debut in 1908 at London, the sport had barely taken root in India. Calcutta formed clubs in 1885 followed by hosting the country's first tournament, the Beighton Cup the same year, and Bombay organising the Aga Khan Cup in 1886. However, it was only on Sep 7, 1925 that the IHF had its first meeting in Gwalior where Col Bruce Turnbull was elected president and NS. Ansari, the secretary.

India's Olympic debut was marred by controversy over captaincy. Jaipal Singh, who was studying in Oxford, was selected along with two other England-based Indians, Yusuf Khan and the Nawab of Pataudi (Sr), who played only in the warm-up games but not the Olympics.

Jaipal was named captain much to the dismay of the Anglo-Indian players in the squad. The simmering discontent saw a disgusted Jaipal walk out of the team after it reached the quarter-finals and Eric Pinninger took over the leadership.

The competition that India won convincingly saw the birth of a legend in Dhyan Chand who was the top scorer of the tournament with 14 goals, including a hat-trick in the final against the Netherlands while India did not concede a single goal in five matches.

India's performance earned them rave reviews and while only three persons saw them off on their journey to London, massive crowds thronged the Bombay port to welcome the new Olympic champions.

Source : www.thehindu.com/sport/hockey/1928-olympics-indias-first-step-towards-ascending-hockey-throne/article3613550.ece

Cricket In 1950s

The 1950’s saw India’s first Test win and then their first Test rubber. Achieving the former feat against England and the latter against Pakistan, it was a decade, which saw individual players making entries into the record books. Mankad’s magic against the Englishmen in 1952, a record breaking opening partnership of 413 between Pankaj Roy and Vinod Mankad and Jasu Patel’s standout performance against the Aussies displayed the class of Indian cricket.

India’s first Test win – 1951-52
It was on 10th of February 1952, the Indians playing more for pride after being down 0-1 in the series against the English. History was made in the final Test at Madras where India registered their first ever Test victory, 20 years after they had made their Test debut.Vijay Hazare led the Indian team. The English, who were led by Donald Carr won the toss and chose to bat. Due to an impressive bowling performance by Vinoo Mankad where he claimed 8 wickets, the English were bowled out for 266 runs. The Indians amassed a massive 457 with Pankaj Roy and Polly Umrigar coming up with centuries to their name.

The English were bowled out for a meager 183 in the second innings with Mnakad and Ghulam Ahmed each taking 4 wickets. This led India to an impressive Test victory by an innings and 8 runs.The five men who won the accolades for this remarkable victory were Vinoo Mankad, Ghulam Ahmed, Pankaj Roy, Polly Umrigar and Probir Sen. Pankaj Roy had gone on to say: “A victory against those who had been our master till 5 years ago had special significance”. A few records made in the 1950s still maintain their place in the sun.

The record of the best opening partnership till date stands in the name of the two greats – Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy. With an individual score of 231 and 173 respectively, the two batsmen toyed with the New Zealand bowling for two days and played glorious shots all around the wicket. This led India to a glorious 109-run victory in the fifth and the final Test against the New Zealand cricket team. They batted for an entire day, which turned out to be vital for the Indian team and was eventually the difference between the two sides.

Source : zenews.india.com/cricket/History-of-Indian-cricket.aspx?nid=79