In today's world, Field hockey at the 1948 Summer Olympics occupies a central place in society. Whether due to its impact on popular culture, its relevance in the academic field, its influence in politics or its importance in history, Field hockey at the 1948 Summer Olympics is presented as a topic of interest that leaves no one indifferent. Over the years, Field hockey at the 1948 Summer Olympics has aroused the interest of researchers, journalists, writers and ordinary people, generating debates, reflections and discussions around its meaning, its evolution and its impact on different aspects of daily life. In this article, we will delve into the most relevant aspects of Field hockey at the 1948 Summer Olympics, exploring its origins, its development and its influence on today's society.
In five Olympic hockey tournaments, there had only been two different winners, but Britain and India had never competed together at the Olympics. There was no question the UK would again be absent at their home Olympics, although there were some organizational difficulties. First of all, the four British nations were independently affiliated with the international federation FIH and were not very keen on cooperating. Also, there were no hockey grounds to train on, as these were used by cricketers during the summer. Still, they managed to put together a team, the first real British hockey team at the Olympics (the 1908 and 1920 champions had been composed entirely of English players). Their captain was the versatile Norman Borrett, a first-class cricketer and national squash champion who once qualified for Wimbledon but didn't have time to compete.
The fixtures were announced on 19 June 1948. Revised fixtures were announced on 28 July. Britain and India were seeded, along with Pakistan and the Netherlands. Pakistan had only separated from India the previous year and made their first Olympic appearance in London. One of the team members, Ali Iqtidar Shah Dara, had been on the golden Indian team of 1936. All four ranked teams made the semis, although the Brits were held to a goalless draw by Switzerland, and Pakistan crushed the Dutch 6–1 in their group match. The semi-finals were close, and British observers considered the Indians to be lucky to get away with a 2–1 win against the Dutch. With Britain beating Pakistan, the gold medal match would finally see India play the Britons. Completely focused on its defense, Britain was unable to keep up with the fast-paced Indians, and they lost it 4–0. The bronze went to the Netherlands, beating Pakistan 4–2 in a replay of the first 3rd place match, which had ended in a draw.
Note: The International Olympic Committee medal database shows also only these players as medalists. They all played at least one match during the tournament. The reserve players are not listed as medalists.
See also
Gold (2018 film), about the Indian national hockey team at the 1948 Summer Olympics