An Indian field hockey team toured the Federation of Malaya and the Colony of Singapore between 11 February and 10 March 1954. The Indian Hockey Federation XI (IHF XI) played 16 games out of which three were international fixtures. India won all 16 matches, scoring a total of 121 goals. Captain of the touring side Balbir Singh Sr. finished with most goals (44), while Susainathan scored 25 and vice-captain Randhir Singh Gentle, 14.[1]
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country | Federation of Malaya Colony of Singapore |
| Dates | 11 February – 10 March 1954 |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 16 |
| Goals scored | 128 (8 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Balbir Singh Sr. (44 goals) |
Background edit
The idea of inviting an India team to Malaya was first mooted in 1949 and officially expressed by G. E. N. Oehlers, then president of the Malayan Hockey Council (MHC).[2] In November 1952, the MHC wrote to the Government of India inviting a team in 1954. It suggested that the touring side include five or six national team players and that the side play nine games in Malaya and three in Singapore.[3] However, this was the second tour of Malaya by an Indian team; the first by the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics gold-winning national team that had toured the same year just before the Olympic Games. They played All-Malaya XI and beat them 7–0.[4]
Squad edit
A 16-member Indian squad for the tour was named on 30 October 1953. Balbir Singh Sr. was named captain of the side and Randhir Singh Gentle, the vice-captain. The squad included six players from the team that won gold at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.[5] The squad arrived on 9 February 1954.[6]
The touring squad included:[5][7]
- Key
GK = Goalkeeper, FB = Fullback, HB = Halfback, FW = Forward
| Pos. | Player | Age | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Ranganathan Francis | 34 | |
| GK | Ram Prakash | ||
| FB | Randhir Singh Gentle (vc) | 32 | |
| FB | Abid Ali Rizvi | 32 | United Provinces |
| FB | Bakshish Singh | 25 | Punjab |
| FB | Leslie Claudius | 26 | Bengal Nagpur Railway |
| HB | O. P. Malhotra | United Provinces | |
| HB | Albert Middlecoat | 29 | Bombay |
| HB | T. M. Padavat | Mysore | |
| HB | Joseph de Mello | Bombay, Tata | |
| FW | Raghbir Singh Bhola | Delhi, Sanaspur SC | |
| FW | I. Susainathan | 28 | Madras Police |
| FW | Muniswamy Rajgopal | 27 | Mysore |
| FW | Bhaskaran | 24 | Mysore |
| FW | Balbir Singh Sr. (c) | 30 | |
| FW | Raghbir Lal | 33 |
Fixtures edit
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- Match was stopped after 25 and 65 minutes of play respectively due to rain.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "The Indians succeed in their mission". The Straits Times. 11 March 1954. p. 14. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "INDIAN VISIT MORE BENEFICIAL". The Straits Times. 5 November 1949. p. 12. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "MHC ask for visit from Indian team". The Straits Times. 18 November 1952. p. 12. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "Indians are coming". The Singapore Free Press. 5 September 1953. p. 6. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ a b "India's team for Malaya named". The Singapore Free Press. 31 October 1953. p. 16. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "IHF captain promises 'excellent hockey'". The Straits Times. 10 February 1954. p. 12. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "INDIAN HOCKEY FED. TEAM ARRIVE TUESDAY". The Straits Times. 3 February 1954. p. 13. Retrieved 20 May 2022.