CHAPTER - I

INTRODUCTION
India being one of the oldest civilizations boasts of one of the
richest and the most diverse cultures in the world. It is an apt example of
unity in diversity for the entire world to imitate. It has remarkably
produced some of the most eminent and great personalities in various
spheres of life that have left a profound impact and have contributed
immensely in almost every field including sports.
Sports and games play an important role in our life. Physical
education and sports have been considered as part of education. Sports
are dynamic social forces in a culture. Sports have become an important
part of cultures across the globe. They have significant influence on
International Affairs and have social, political, legal and educational
overtones. Sports have become cultural phenomena of great magnitude
and complexity during the present century. Sport is fast becoming a social
institution. It has become a potent educational, social and economic force.
There is a profound cultural change with regard to the role of sports and
physical recreation during present time. Sports are primarily cultural
products.
Sports and games propagate the feelings of nationalism and help in
creating a new generation of individuals with the feelings that the
differences based on caste, community and religion have no meaning.
The faith, love, peace, and the feeling of goodwill and brotherhood serve
to a greater extent towards humanity. Sports and games provide a
common platform where sportspersons from different regions, professing
different religion and faiths, speaking different languages, having
different customs and traditions interact with each other in a harmonious
congenial atmosphere. Players forget all their differences and emerge as a
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homogenous group. Such type of thinking, insight and mental approach

can play positive role in nation building. Sports and games help in
creating such understanding and can play a very decisive and pivotal role
in bringing about national integration.
Sports and games have been an integral part of Indian culture. The
country has always admired and regarded its outstanding sportspersons as
national heroes/heroines. These sportspersons have been the role models
for younger generation who continued to inspire them towards the
attainment of greater heights in chosen sporting endeavours. Such
sportspersons aptly set their realistic long term as well as short term goals
and made sincere all out efforts for their realization. Their regular process
of goal setting and dedicated efforts put through rigorous training and
workouts take them to the highest level of their performance.
In games and sports, all players are equal and have an equal chance
to win. Nowhere else in this world does absolute equality exist. It is only
the world of sports that provides equal opportunity irrespective of caste,
colour, race and faith. Whoever plays a game does by virtue of freedom
of choice. He is neither forced nor coerced by anyone. Playing games is
not a work. It is rather a spontaneous and willful choice of an individual.
Therefore, we can say that playing games means being free. This freedom
is basic to all games.
Sports include absolute freedom of activity. The major aim of
sports is recreation. Sports are in fact, the attitudes of mind. For some
people sports are recreation, for others, the means to excel and achieve
high standards in performance during competition. Sports are largely
individual events such as athletics, archery, swimming, shooting;
wrestling etc wherein the participant tries to compete against his/her own
previous standards as well as those of others. Organized sports nowadays
are refined with activities bound by rules and regulations so that there are

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constant efforts for betterment of standard and perfection in performance

of skills.
Sport is a highly ambiguous term having different meanings. Some
persons refer to sports when they are speaking of athletics competition
whereas others refer to sports when they are discussing the organizational
and financial status of a team. Sport is a play, a competition, an
acquisition of physical skill, strategy and physical process. The major
attribute that distinguishes sports from game is physical process. Physical
process refers to the learning and practice of a skill if one is to succeed in
sports and competition.
Hockey is a team game wherein a group of players having
excellent physical fitness, mastery over the skills and tactical capabilities
together with high order of mental functioning collectively strive to
outsmart their rivals in a competition. It is a game that requires nerves of
steel to tolerate the critical competition load.
Some Eminent Sports Personalities of India
The Indian soil boasts of some of the most eminent sports
personalities who have competed at the highest level and made their
country proud. Some of the Indian sportspersons who have performed at
the International level with distinction and have made their country proud
include the following:
Ghulam Mohammad Alias Great Gama (Wrestling)
Ghulam Mohammad Alias the Great Gama, also known as
Gama Pahelvan, and Lion of the Punjab, was born in Amritsar, Punjab,
during British rule in India. He was a renowned Kashmiri wrestler,
warrior and a practitioner of Pehlwani wrestling. He was awarded the
South Asian version of the World Heavyweight Championship on
October 15, 1910. To this date he is the only wrestler in history who

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remained undefeated throughout his life which was substantial, as his

career had spanned more than 50 years. He remains among the top four
greatest wrestlers of all time.
Milkha Singh (Athletics)
Milkha Singh was one of the most outstanding athletes of India. He
earned the nickname ‘Flying Sikh’ because of his marvelous running
speed on the tracks. He was born in 1935 in the Western Punjab of
undivided India.
In 1957, he established a new national record of 47.5 seconds in
400 meter race. In the Third Asiad held at Tokyo (Japan) in 1958, Milkha
Singh set two new records in 400 meter and 200 meter races,
respectively. In the 4th Asiad held at Jakarta (Indonesia), Milkha Singh
won a gold medal in the 400 meter race. In 1959, Government of India
honoured Milkha Singh with ‘Padma Shri’ for his notable achievements
in the field of sports. Milkha Singh at present is fully dedicated to the
promotion of sports in India.
Leander Paes (Lawn Tennis)
Leander Paes teamed up with Mahesh Bhupathi to form the Indian
doubles team and the duo in 1999, showed their class by winning the
French Open and Wimbledon and entering the finals of two other Grand
Slam Tournaments; the Australian and US Opens. Leander won the
mixed doubles events at the Australian Open and Wimbledon with
Martina Navratilova, both in 2003. In the 2004 Athens Olympic Games,
he paired up with Mahesh Bhupathi and failed at the semi finals stage.
His next Grand Slam success was in the U.S. Open doubles event in
2006. Paes lead the Indian tennis team at the Doha Asian Games in 2006
and won two golds in the Men’s doubles (partnering Mahesh Bhupathi)
and Mixed doubles (partnering Sania Mirza). Paes had maintained his

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doubles ranking in the top 20 in the world between 2005 and 2007. He
captured the 1990 Wimbledon Junior title and was ranked as the No.1
junior player in the world at one time.
P.T.Usha (Athletics)
P.T. Usha is one of India’s best-known female athletes, the queen
of Indian track and field for two decades, the woman who was nicknamed
‘Payyoli Express’ because of her speed on the race-track. Usha made her
international debut at the Moscow Olympics in 1980 but she came into
the limelight in the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, winning the silver
in the 100m and 200m events. At the Asian Meet in Jakarta in 1985 Usha
established herself as the Asian sprint queen with five gold medals (in the
100meters, 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay) besides a
bronze in the 100m relay. This magnificent performance was followed by
an equally brilliant spell an year later at the Asian Games at Seoul where
Usha notched up four golds and a silver medal. P.T. Usha was honoured
with the Arjuna Award in 1983 and the Padmashree in 1985. She was
named ‘Sportsperson of the Century’ by the Indian Olympic Association,
and till date, is the Indian with most international track and field medals.
Abhinav Bindra (Shooting)
At 15, Abhinav Bindra became the youngest participant in the 1998
Commonwealth Games. His fame to honour though came when he won a
Bronze in the 2001 Munich World Cup with a new junior world record
score of 597/600. Bindra was also the youngest Indian participant at the
2000 Olympic Games. He won six gold medals at various international
meets in 2001. In 2001 he was honoured with the Arjuna Award and the
prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2001.In the Air rifle event
at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Manchester, he won Gold in the
Pairs event. Bindra also won Silver in the individual event. On July 24,

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2006, Bindra became the first Indian shooter to win a World

Championship gold in Zagreb. Dr. Karni Singh’s Silver in 1962 was the
previous best by an Indian in a World Championship meet. At the 2008
Beijing Olympics, Abhinav Bindra won the gold for the Men’s 10m Air
Rifle final after shooting a total of 700.5. This was India’s first individual
gold medal at the Olympics, and the first gold in 28 years, since the
men’s field hockey team won the gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Bindra was rewarded by various Indian State Governments and Private
Organizations for his achievement.
Viswanathan Anand (Chess)
Anand was born on 11 December 1969 in Mayiladuthurai, a small
town in Tamil Nadu, India in a Tamil family. In 1987, he became the first
Indian to win the World Junior Chess Championship. In 1988, at the age
of eighteen, he became India's first Grandmaster by winning Shakti
Finance International Chess Tournament held in Coimbatore, India. He
was awarded Padma Shri at the age of 18. In 1994–95 Anand and Gata
Kamsky dominated the qualifying cycles for the rival FIDE and PCA
world championships. In the FIDE cycle (FIDE World Chess
Championship, 1996). Anand lost his quarter-final match to Kamsky after
leading early.
Vijender Singh (Boxing)
Vijender Singh is an Olympic Medalist Indian boxer from Kalwas,
Bhiwani district in Haryana. At the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, he won
the bronze medal after losing the semifinal bout against Kazakhstan’s
Bakhtiyar Artayev. At the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, he defeated
Carlos Gongora of Ecuador 9–4 in the quarterfinals which guaranteed
him a bronze medal the first ever Olympic medal for an Indian boxer.
After this historic win, Vijender was given a number of awards, including

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the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award India's highest sporting honour. In
2009, he participated at the World Amateur Boxing Championships
where he won the bronze medal. In the same year, the International
Boxing Association (AIBA) announced Vijender as the top-ranked boxer
in its annual middleweight category list with 2800 points. He is credited
for bringing back the sport of boxing into the limelight in India. In July
2009, Vijender accompanied by Sushil and boxer Mary Kom were
felicitated with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award India’s highest
sporting honour, Vijender participated at the 2009 World Amateur
Boxing Championships. In January 2010, Vijender was awarded the
Padma Shri award, for outstanding contribution to Indian Sports
Geet Sethi (English Billiards)
Geet Siriram Sethi (born April 17, 1961) of India is a professional
player of English billiards who dominated the sport throughout of the
1990s, and a notable amateur (ex-pro) snooker player. He is a six-time
winner of the professional-level and a three-time winner of the amateur
World Championships, and holder of two world records, in English
billiards. He rose to international prominence by winning the IBSF World
Amateur Billiards Championships in 1985, versus Bob Marshall in an
eight-hour-long final round. In the 1992 World Professional Billiards
Championship, Sethi constructed a world-record English billiards break
of 1276 under the three-pot rule, also the highest break in five decades
and won first place. He went on to win the title again in 1993, 1995,
1998, and 2006. A major sporting hero in India, he is a recipient of
India’s highest sporting award, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna for 1992–
1993; both the Padma Shri and the Arjuna Award in 1986; and the K.K.
Birla Award, 1993

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Baichung Bhutia (Football)

Baichung Bhutia (born 15 December 1976) is an ex Indian
footballer. He is considered to be the torchbearer of Indian football in the
international arena. In 1999 he became the first Indian footballer to play
professional football in Europe. His international football honours
include winning the Nehru Cup, LG Cup, South Asian Football
Federation (SAFF) Championship (three times) and the Asian Football
Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup. He is also India’s most capped
player, and in the 2009 Nehru Cup he received his 100th international
cap. He has also won many awards including the Arjuna Award and the
Padmashri award.
Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (Cricket)
Mansoor Ali Khan (Born on January 5, 1941, Bhopal and died on
September 22, 2011, New Delhi) nicknamed Tiger Pataudi, was an Indian
cricketer and former captain of the team. He played in 46 Test matches
for India between 1961 and 1975, had scored 2,793 runs at a batting
average of 34.91, including 6 Test centuries. His victories included
India’s first ever Test match win overseas against New Zealand in 1968.
India went on to win that series, making it India’s first ever Test series
win overseas. He was adjudged Cricketer of the Year in 1962, and a
Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1968. He was conferred Arjuna Award in
1964 and the prestigious Padma Shri in 1967.
Kapil Dev (Cricket)
Kapil Dev Nikhanj was one of the finest all rounders ever produced
in World Cricket. When Kapil was just 20, he set a new record of scoring
1000 runs and taking 100 wickets. Kapil Dev started playing in the first
class cricket in 1975 and the opportunity for him to play in a test match
for the first time came in 1978 during Indian team’s tour to Pakistan. He

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also achieved the unique double of 4000 runs and 400 wickets, the first
ever Indian player to do so. He also set the world record for taking the
highest number of wickets (432) in test matches in February 1994. Indian
government honoured him with the ‘Padmabhushan’ award.
Sachin Tendulkar (Cricket)
Sachin has been one of the legends of modern day cricket and
holds almost all batting records of recent times. He has scored the most
number of runs in both test cricket as well as one dayers and holds the
distinction of scoring a double century in an ODI. He has been the
recipient of almost all sports awards in India and was the proud member
of the Indian Cricket team that won the World Cup in 2011. He holds the
unique distinction of scoring 100 centuries at the international
level.Tendulkar has been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan award,
India's second highest civilian award and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
award, India's highest sporting honour. Tendulkar became the first
sportsperson and the first person without an aviation background to be
awarded the honorary rank of Group Captain by the Indian Air Force. He
has received honorary doctorates from Mysore University and Rajiv
Gandhi University of Health Sciences. He also won the 2010 Sir Garfield
Sobers Trophy for cricketer of the year at the ICC awards. Most recently
he has been nominated as an M.P. in Rajya Sabha.
Eminent Indian Hockey Players
Dhyan Chand
Dhyan Chand was born on 29 August 1905, in Allahabad, U.P. He
joined the army at the age of sixteen. ‘Lance Naik’ Dhyan Chand built a
reputation for himself while playing for the army. At the Berlin Olympics
in 1936, Dhyan Chand could not play in the finals against Germany in the
beginning. But as he was hurt at half point, when India was leading by

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only 1-0, Dhyan Chand removed his shoes and entered the field bare foot.
He took India to a stunning victory scoring 6 more goals.
Adolf Hitler, the German dictator, was so impressed by Dhyan Chand’s
performance in the Berlin Olympic finals that he offered to elevate
‘Lance Naik’ Dhyan Chand to the rank of a Colonel if he migrated to
Germany. Of course, Dhyan Chand refused. It was hard for people to
believe that somebody could have the kind of hockey skills Dhyan Chand
had. In Holland, the authorities broke his hockey stick to check if there
was a magnet inside. In Japan the authorities felt Dhyan Chand was using
some glue which made the ball stick to it. Dhyan Chand scored over a
thousand goals in a career spanning 22 years (1926 -1948), more than any
other hockey player in the world. A sports club in Vienna built a statue of
Dhyan Chand with four hands and four sticks. To the Viennese, it seemed
that no ordinary man with two hands and one stick could have played as
well as Dhyan Chand did play. He is known as hockey wizard across the
world. He was captain of the Indian team in 1936 Berlin Olympics which
won Gold medal in hockey. 29th August, the birthday of the Great Dhyan
Chand, is celebrated as national sports day in our country.
K.D.Singh “Babu”
Kunwar Digvijay Singh, usually known as K.D. Singh “Babu” was
an Indian Hockey player who is considered to be one of the best Inside
Rights that Indian Hockey has ever witnessed. He was born on 2nd
February 1922 at Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. K.D. Singh “Babu” has twice
been a part of the Indian Hockey squad that visited the Olympic Games.
At London Olympic Games 1948, he was named the Vice Captain of the
Indian Hockey team that grabbed a Gold Medal at the event. He was the
Captain of the Indian Hockey team that participated at Helsinki Olympic
Games in 1952. This time too, the Indian squad emerged as the Gold
Medal winner. He was a part of the Indian team that visited New Zealand
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in the year 1955, and was named the Assistant Manager of the Indian
squad that visited Africa in 1959. Further, he served as the Coach of the
Indian Hockey team that visited Hong Kong in the year 1966, and played
at Munich Olympic Games 1972. K.D. Singh “Babu” was honored with
the Helms Trophy for being the Best Hockey player in the World in the
year 1953 and was the first Asian player to receive the award. The
Government of India bestowed upon him the prestigious Padma Shri
award in the year 1958. Apart from it, a sports stadium in Lucknow has
been named after him, and is known as K.D. Singh Babu Stadium.
Balbir Singh Sr.
Balbir Singh Sr. was born on October 19, 1924 in Haripur Khalsa,
Punjab. He was a member of three Olympic Gold Medal winning Indian
hockey teams, at London (1948), Helsinki (1952) and Melbourne
(1956).He coached the Indian team for the 1971 Men’s Hockey World
Cup in which India won the Bronze Medal. He was the manager of the
Indian team for the 1975 Men’s Hockey World Cup which India won.
Balbir Singh was the first Sports personality to be honored with the
Padma Shri award in the year 1957. He lit the Sacred Flame at the Asian
Games in 1982 held at New Delhi. In the year 2006 he was named the
Best Sikh Hockey Player of All Times. Also, in a poll conducted in the
year 1982 he was adjudged the Player of the Century.
Ajit Pal Singh
Ajit Pal Singh has been an Indian Hockey Player and considered to
be one of the most charismatic Center Half the world of Hockey has ever
seen. Apart from playing for the Indian Hockey team, he also led the
team to win the World Cup Hockey in 1975. He was born on the 1st of
April 1947 at Sansarpur, a small village near Jallandhar Cantonment of
Punjab, which was famous as a breeding ground of Hockey Stars as this

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village had been home to a number of International Hockey players who

had done the nation proud with their commendable performance in the
game. Ajit Pal Singh made his debut in International Hockey with a
tournament played at Bombay in the year 1960. He was selected in the
Indian Hockey team that visited Japan in the year 1966, and participated
in the Pre-Olympic tournament held in London the next year. Further, he
played in the Olympic Games at Mexico in 1968 and delivered a brilliant
performance, although the Indian Hockey squad stood at 3rd spot at the
event. He was part of the Indian squad at Munich Olympic Games 1972,
where the team finished at the 3rd spot getting a Bronze Medal. He led the
Indian Hockey team to World Cup Hockey tournament held at Kuala
Lumpur in 1975 leading the team to win the tournament and also at
Montreal Olympic Games in 1976. Even after his retirement from
International Hockey, Ajit Pal continued to play in Domestic Hockey
Circuit for Border Security Force (B.S.F.) team. As an honour to his
outstanding contribution to Indian Hockey, Ajit Pal Singh was conferred
upon the Arjuna Award in the year 1970 and also bestowed upon the
Padma Shri award in the year 1992.
B.P.Govinda
B. P. Govinda (born 4 March 1951 in Somwarpet, Karnataka) is a
former player and captain of the Indian field hockey team. He played for
India in the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok, 1972 Summer Olympics at
Munich, 1973 Hockey World Cup in Amsterdam 1974 Asian Games in
Teheran, 1975 World Cup at Kuala Lumpur and in 1976 at Montreal
Olympics. In 1972, Govinda was selected for the World XI team. He was
awarded the Arjuna Award for his valuable contribution and consistent
performance in the game of hockey.

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Mohammad Shahid
Mohammed Shahid has been an Indian Hockey player, very much
famous because of his amazing dribbling skills and considered to be one
of the best dribblers the world has ever witnessed. An aggressive Inside
Left, he along with Zafar Iqbal formed a lethel weapon, capable of
breaching even the strongest defenses in World Hockey during those
days. He was born on the 14th of April 1960 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Getting attracted towards the game of Hockey at quite an early age, he
began playing at the junior level, and caught the eyes of the game
veterans soon. He represented the Indian team at the Moscow Olympic
Games 1980, where the squad managed to grab the Gold Medal
successfully. He also played at the World Cup Hockey Tournament 1981-
82 held at Bombay (now Mumbai), wherein the Indian team finishted at
5th place. After that, he participated in the Champions Trophy Hockey
Tournament, Karachi in 1983, and played at Esanda World Hockey
Tournament held at Perth, Australia in 1984. As an honor to his
outstanding services to the nation in Hockey, Mohammed Shahid was
conferred upon Arjuna Award in the year 1980-81 and further he was also
honored with the Padma Shri award in the year 1986.
Dhanraj Pillay
Dhanraj Pillay has been one of the best all time Hockey players of
India and also one of the most popular hockey players the game has ever
produced for the country. An extremely good forward with sharp
attacking acumen, Dhanraj came from a very modest background and by
dint of his sheer talent and charismatic skills rose to become one of the
most prominent Hockey players of the nation.
Dhanraj Pillay made his debut in the International Hockey with
Allwyn Asia Cup Hockey tournament held at New Delhi in the year

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1989. He played his first International match against the team of China on
the 20th of December 1989. After this, he represented the Indian team in
a number of International tournaments such as Beijing Asian Games
1990, Barcelona Olympic Games 1992, World Cup Hockey tournament
1994 and so on till the year 2004.
He has been the only Hockey player who has participated in 4
Olympic Games (held in the years 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004), 4 World
Cup Tournaments (held in 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002, 4 Champions
Trophy Tournaments (held in 1995, 1996, 2002 and 2003), and 4 Asian
Games (held in 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002). He also served as the
Captain of the Indian Hockey team for some time, and led the team to
victory in Asian Games 1998 and Asia Cup Hockey 2003. Dhanraj was
the highest goal scorer in the Hockey event at Bangkok Asian Games
1998, and has been the only Indian player to appear in the World Eleven
team at Sydney World Cup Tournament 1994.
As an honour to his extra-ordinary talent devotion towards the
game of Hockey and his contribution to be nation through his efforts
made in the game, the highest sporting honor of India, the Rajiv Gandhi
Khel Ratna was bestowed upon Dhanraj Pillay by the Government of
India for the year 1999-2000, and was honored by the Padma Shri award
in 2000. At the Champions Trophy tournament 2002 held at Cologne,
Germany, he was named the Player of the Tournament.
Hockey as National Game
In India among various sports, hockey occupies a significant place.
It is the national game of India. It is a game of skill, deception,
anticipation, concentration and chatterer. Like all other games, hockey
too has its fundamental skills. To be on the top in any game, it is
necessary to have mastery over its fundamental skills. The fundamental
skills of a game are based on the motor moments of human being.
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Hockey is considered a highly competitive sport around the world. Both

men and women take part in the game world over.
According to Bright, Jagat and Proundfood (1980), “The game
hockey is said to be oldest of all games played with a ball and stick. It has
a thrill of romantic journey traveling around the world.” Persia (Iran) is
known to be the birthplace of hockey. The Greek borrowed the idea of the
game from Persians and in turn, passed it on to the Romans. It then
travelled to France and eventually it found its way to Britain.
(Miroy,1986; Singh, 1972; Lodhi, 1984.)
The Federation International de hockey (FIH) was formed on
January 7, 1924. Hockey was first introduced in the Olympic Games in
London in 1908 and in the third Asian games in 1958 held at Tokyo. The
first ever hockey World Cup was organized in Barcelona (Spain) in
October 1971. The game has acquired global recognition and is being
enthusiastically played in more than 100 countries of the world. (Singh,
1972; Hendrics, 1988).
The Englishmen towards the end of 19th century brought hockey to
India. Considering the popularity of the game, the India Hockey
Federation (IHF) came into existence on 7th November, 1925 at Gwalior.
The first National Hockey Championship was held in 1928 at Kolkata
where in United provinces emerged as Winner and Rajputanas were
Runner up. So much did the game appeal to the people of India that it
became its national game. (Sahay, 1968; Masood, 1936; Official hockey
souvenir, 1994).
The performance of India in Olympic hockey is perhaps the most
glorious chapter in the annals of Indian sports. The domination of country
in Olympic hockey continued from its debut in 1928 at Amsterdam to
1956 in Melbourne. In 1960 in Rome, India secured Runners up position
and in 1964 in Tokyo, recovered once again to become a Champion. India

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again emerged Gold medalist in 1980 at Moscow Olympic in hockey.

Thus, beginning with victory in its first appearance in 1928, India created
a maiden record of six wins in Olympic hockey, a record that is unlikely
to be equaled by any country in the near future. (Babu, 1981; Hendrics,
1988; McWhirter, 1984; McMellow, 1980; Singh, 1972).
The Britishers introduced hockey in India. The first hockey club of
India was established at Kolkata in 1885. After this, due to the initiation
of ‘Aga Khan Cup’ and ‘Beton Cup’ in 1895, this sport became very
popular in India.
India’s first Hockey Federation was created in Kolkata in 1908. In
1919 the ‘Sport Regulatory Board’ was formed. In order to monitor the
progress of the sport in India, a ‘National Hockey Council’ was created
at Gwalior on 7 November, 1925. This Council regulates hockey in
India, and also organizes inter-state and national level hockey
competitions. These competitions are organized every year and at
different states.
The modern day hockey started in England, and received massive
popularity there, but the amount of dedication which was given to this
sport in India was unlike any other country of the world. All the
traditional ways of playing hockey in India were abandoned, and a
unique artistic technique was developed. As a result, in the global
hockey arena, India secured a high place for a long time.
India’s amazing feat at International Hockey is associated with a
number of dramatic twists and turns. The beginning of this tale was with
some unbelievable success and ended with the unimaginable pain of
defeat. There was a time when India’s victory in any international
tournament was considered to be obvious. This situation was prevalent
for a long time. But, after this a period came, when India’s defeat in
international hockey was a natural thing.

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The golden period of Indian hockey began nearly seventy-years

ago, when in 1926, the Indian Hockey team visited New-Zealand and
displayed the best technique of Indian hockey and impressed the foreign
sports lovers. It was believed in Europe during that time, that only a
player who possessed a strong physique could be successful in playing
hockey, and the one who can apply his physical strength in hitting the
ball. But when the Indian players with their wonderful amalgamation of
their hockey stick and the ball produced wonderful dribbling and played
short passes to negate the existing European technique, everyone had to
admire the greatness of the Indian hockey.
India participated in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. This was the
first entry for India. The captain of the 16-member hockey team was
Jaipal Singh. Before reaching the final, India had played four matches.
After defeating Belgium 9-0, India had defeated both Austria and
Switzerland by six goals, and then Denmark by five goals.
The final match was different from the Indian point of view. Firoz
Khan, Shawkat Ali, Sher Singh and Dhyan Chand were ill. Surely it was
a difficult task for India. It was a Do or Die match for India. The Indian
team with their full enthusiasm came out on the field, and defeated
Holland in front of their own supporters by 3-0 to win the Olympic title.
Ailing Dhyan Chand had scored two goals in the match.
After this, for thirty-two years India dominated the Olympics. Till
now India has won eight gold medals in Olympics which is highest for
any country. In 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, India defeated America by
24-1 which is a world record. Dhyan Chand was the captain of the team
during the match. From 1920 to 1956 India had successfully won gold
medals and dominated the entire hockey world. Who knew that the
country would have to face defeat even after such a great achievement? In
1958, for the first time the Asian Hockey Tournament was organized and

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India and Pakistan contested for the final, and because of less points India
had to face defeat.
The story of the Asian Games was repeated at the Rome Olympics
of 1960. The Indian Hockey team reached the finals but it had to face at
the hands of Pakistan. Once again at the Asian Games in Jakarta, India
was defeated by Pakistan in the final and thus Pakistan displayed a
magnificent view of its success.
The 1964 Tokyo Olympics brought new hopes for the Indian team.
India defeated Australia by 3-1 in the semi-final, and after a hard fought
game, defeated Pakistan in the final; the only goal being scored by a
penalty shoot, and thus India succeeded in establishing itself in
International hockey once again.
In 1972 Munich Olympic Games, Pakistan defeated India by 2-0.
Just like the previous Olympic Games India had to be satisfied with the
third position.
In the second World Cup held in 1973 at Amsterdam, India
defeated its traditional rival Pakistan by 1-0, but was defeated in the final
by Holland 6-4 in tie-breaker. In 1975, the third World Cup was held at
Kuala Lumpur. In the semi-final, India was trailing 1-2 against the host
team. But during the ending minutes of the game, Aslam Sher khan
scored to lead India to the final. The success achieved in the semi-final
had raised the self-confidence of the Indian team to such an extent that it
went on to defeat Pakistan 2-1 in the final to win the World Cup.
Advent of Astroturf
Astroturf was co-invented in 1965 by Donald L. Elbert, James M.
Faria, and Robert T. Wright, employees of Monsanto Company. It was
patented in 1967 and originally sold under the name “Chemgrass”. It was
renamed Astroturf by Company employee John A. Wortmann after its
first well-publicized use at the Houston Astrodome stadium in 1966.
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Chapter-I Introduction

Astroturf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a

registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any
kind of artificial turf. The original Astroturf product was a short pile
synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such
as antimicrobial protection, rubber infill, backing systems and nylon yarn
fibers and plastic. The prime reason to incorporate Astroturf on game
fields was to reduce the cost of laying natural turf.
Indian Hockey and Astroturf

The Indian hockey team was invincible on grass. The team won six
consecutive gold medals until 1956 and had overall tally of eight gold
medals until 1980 and was the world’s most potent force in hockey.
In 1965 the Europeans invented the Astroturf to counter the
magical skills of Indian Hockey on grass as India did not have facilities
for Astroturf which was an extremely new technology for India.
Thereafter the performance of the Indian team started to deteriorate. The
game of hockey on Astroturf was first of all played at Montreal Olympics
in 1976 where in all the Asian teams including India and Pakistan
miserably failed to perform and thereafter a constant need was felt to
have sufficient numbers of Astroturf for practice and competition to
provide specific exposure to the players of the country to become used to
with the new playing surface.
Zafar Iqbal is one among few who has equally excelled in the game
of hockey both on grass as well as on Astroturf. He promptly adapted to
the changed surface without much variations in his skills. It is on this
point to proudly mention that in recognition of his illustrious performance
in hockey together with his valuable contributions made to the country in
the promotion of sports, the Government of India very recently has
awarded him the prestigious “Padmashree Award”.

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Chapter-I Introduction

Statement of the Problem

The purpose of the present study was firstly to highlight the
achievements of Arjuna Awardee Zafar Iqbal at National and
International levels in hockey and his contributions for the promotion
of sports in the country. Secondly, to underscore his coaching
philosophy his personality traits and leadership qualities with regard to
administrative skills as a Sports Administrator. Keeping in view the
above said purpose, the problem has been stated as ARJUNA
AWARDEE ZAFAR IQBAL “LEGENDARY HOCKEY PLAYER”
:A CASE STUDY.
Objectives of the Study
The study was conducted keeping in view the following objectives:
1. To explore the significant contributions of Zafar Iqbal as a player
2. To find out his abilities and philosophy that made him a most
successful hockey coach.
3. To trace out his qualities as a sportsman, sports administrator and
sports promoter.
4. To find out his leadership qualities.
5. To explore his personality traits.
6. To study the social traits specific to him.
7. To find out motivational factors that persisted him to excel in
sports.
Delimitations
The study has following delimitations:
1. The study was delimited to the achievements and contributions of
Arjuna Awardee Zafar Iqbal.
2. Zafar Iqbal’s career has been studied with regard to his coaching
philosophy and leadership qualities.

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Chapter-I Introduction

3. The study has been delimited with regard to his personality and
training/ coaching programme.
4. The study has covered the period from his birth till date.
Limitations
1. The scholar had to be dependent on primary and secondary sources
including interviews with Arjuna Awardee Zafar Iqbal, his family
members, coaches, colleagues, sportspersons, selected
contemporaries, his team mates, teachers and significant others
who possessed the unexplored Information about the subject.
2. Data were also collected through questionnaires, sports magazines,
news papers, web pages and psychological tests which have their
own limitations.
3. The respondents might have exercised biasness in candidly
responding to some of the queries made to them.
Significance of the Study
The study has been considered important in the following manner:
1. The study highlights the significant contributions and achievements
made by Arjuna Awardee Zafar Iqbal to the game of hockey in
India.
2. The study seems to be a valuable addition to the professional
literature in the discipline of physical education and sports.
3. Findings of the study may be a great source of inspiration to the
present and future generations of hockey players, coaches, physical
educationists, sports promoters and sportsperson.
4. The masses of the country may take a lesson that the sports and
academics may go side by side without interfering, with each other
which may be instrumental in changing the negative thinking of the
people about sports and sportsperson.

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Chapter-I Introduction

5. The study will be a valuable document of the glorious past of

Indian hockey and its historical perspectives for the coming
generation.
Operational Definitions of the Technical Terms
Sports Psychology
Sports Psychology encompasses various branches of Psychology as
they are related to our ability to understand athlete performance, how to
make it better? And how to improve exercise programmes?
Singer,
Motivation
Motivation is psychological and physical condition that causes one
to expend effort to satisfy needs and wants.
Rai,
Recreation
Any form of leisure- time experience or activity in which an
individual engages from choice because of the enjoyment and satisfaction
which it brings directly to him.
Butler,
Personality
Personality may be defined as the most characteristic integration of
an individual’s structures, modes of behaviour, interests, attitudes,
capacities, abilities and aptitudes.
Munn,
Physical Education
Physical education is an education of and through human
movement where many of educational objectives are achieved by means
of big muscle activities involving sports, games, gymnastics, dance and
exercises.
Barrow,
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Chapter-
Chapter-I Introduction

Leadership
Leadership is the art, science of gift by which a man is enabled and
privileged to direct the thoughts, plans and actions of his fellowmen by
honorable and legitimate means, for noble and altruistic end.

Bucher,

Life
A period of existence in the world as a living being; Way of living
in relation to one’s action and conduct; Way of living in regard to the
circumstance, condition and surroundings; an account of a person’s life.
Henry and Eric,
Achievement
The characteristics of an individual, which determine the unique
adjustments, he or she makes to his or her environment.
Alvin and Gardner,
Coach
The wise coach develops not only the fullest physical potential in
his charges, but also those capacities and habits of mind and body which
will enrich and ennoble their later years.
Dyson,
Case Study
As this thesis is a Case Study of Mr.Zafar Iqbal, it is imperative to
explain what a Case Study is. In the words of Young, a comprehensive
study of a social unit, a person, a group, a social institution, a district or
community is called a Case Study.
The basic unit of a Case Study is a Case. It is a particular study. A
Case Study may be based on a human being, a group of individuals, a
nation, a race, a particular class of a persons, communities and
institutions, which are treated as a unit as a unit of analysis and

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Chapter-
Chapter-I Introduction

informative report of the status of an individual subject with respect to his

personality. The essential procedure of the Case Study method is to take
into account of all pertinent aspects of one thing or situation, employing
as the unit for study; an individual, an institution, a community or any
group considered as a unit. The Case consists of the data relating to some
phase of the life history of the unit or relating to the entire life process
whether it is an individual, a family a social group, an institution or a
community. The complex situation and combination of factors involved
in the given case are examined to determine the existing status and to
identify the casual factors operating.
Goods and Scales,
Arjuna Award
The Arjuna Award is the highest National recognition given to
distinguished Sports persons for their contribution in the field of sports.
The Award was instituted in 1961. It is for outstanding performance
given by a sportsperson during the year for which it is presented after
taking into account the achievements during the preceding three years.
The Awardee is presented with bronze statuette of Arjuna, the legendary
pandava, a scroll, and a cash prize of 5, 00,000/- along with a monogram,
a blazer and a tie. The President of India presents the Arjuna Awards on
August 29th, the birthday of legendary, hockey wizard, late captain Dhyan
Chand.
The scope of the Award has been enlarged to include such sports
persons who have made lifetime contribution to their sport.
From the year 1965, the Award is given in the following three
categories of competitions:-
Olympian/Asian/Commonwealth Games and Cricket.
Indigenous Games.
Physically Challenged Category.

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