The World's Hockey Champions 1936

By Olympic Gold Medallist M. N. Masood

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Binder
Binder
Binder
Binder
Binder
Binder
Binder
Binder
Binder
Binder
Page 4 Page 5 Page 6

India vs. Hungary

After the match, the Indian contingent went to Hotel Adlon, the finest hotel in Berlin, to be received by the Maharaja and Maharani of Baroda, who were staying there at the time.

The Maharaja was dressed in a navy blue suit and the Maharani had a gold-bordered blue sari on. After introductions, our hosts departed, leaving us to a light supper. The Afghanistan team was also invited, and its members dined with us.
Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12

India 4 – Hungary 0

India played her first international match in the tournament against Hungary on 5th August at 6:00 pm in the Hockey Stadium. The stadium stands were very sparsely occupied, as a win for India was a foregone conclusion.

The game opened with the characteristic Indian attack, showing full control over the ball, and crisp, short passes amongst the forwards. A terrific drive by Shahabuddin was stopped by the goal-keeper at the expense of a long corner, which was not converted.

Ten minutes after the 'bully-off', rain came in big drops, making the ground still more heavy and slippery. India should have changed her tactics, opening the game with 'cross' and 'through' passing, and utilising her fast wingers.

Instead, she stuck to her game before the rain. The Hungarians, who were determined to defend their goal at all costs, found the heavy ground and the short, slow passes amongst India's forwards to their liking, and began to defend their goal still more stubbornly.

Tapsell scored the first goal off a short corner, and the supporters of India heaved a sigh of relief. This goal shook the Hungarian defence a little, and Roop Singh availed himself of the shaking by dribbling past three defenders and placing the ball accurately in a side of the net. At the interval, India was leading 2-0.

The resumption saw a change of method in India's attack. Cross passes were freely used, leaving the Hungarians guessing. From such a cross pass from Peter, Shahabuddin scored an excellent goal, the best work of the match, ten minutes after the game had restarted.

Only one more goal could be scored in the 25 minutes of play left, that too only when the Hungarians made a concerted rush forward, and thus weakened their own defence. Tapsell stopped this foolish outburst and hit a clean, long pass to Jaffar, who in turn made a through pass to Roop, who did not find any difficulty in dodging the right-back and placing the ball past a helpless goalkeeper.

Almost all through the game, India relied on short passes between the inside-forwards, and dribbling and back-passes to her half-backs, tactics which neither suited the ground nor the type of play that the opponents were adopting. India could score only four goals against a team which would be fortunate to be placed in the 3rd division in an Indian hockey league.

India showed yet another weakness in taking short corners. About two dozen corners were awarded, of which only one was converted into a goal.

The Indian team was as follows: Allen; Tapsell and Mohammad Hussain; Nimal, Cullen and Gallibardy; Shahabuddin, Jaffar, Dhyan Chand, Roop Singh and Peter Fernandes.

The Maharaja of Baroda

After the match, the Indian contingent went to Hotel Adlon, the finest hotel in Berlin, to be received by the Maharaja and Maharani of Baroda, who were staying there at the time.

We were received very graciously by both. The Maharaja was dressed in a navy blue suit and the Maharani had a gold-bordered blue sari on.

Mr. Jagannath introduced the hockey team and Mr. Sondhi, the athletes. After the introduction, our hosts departed, leaving us to a light supper. The Afghanistan team was also invited, and its members dined with us. It was a luxuriously served supper, though without the hosts being present.

Divider

Otto, the steward, hoisting our flag in the Olympic Village

Divider