1960 Rome Olympics
Sixteen teams took part at the 1956 Games and they were divided into four groups. Group A saw India clubbed with Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand, Group B featured Australia, Pakistan, Japan and Poland, Group C featured France, Germany, Italy and Kenya and Group D had Belgium, Great Britain, Spain and Switzerland.
Winner:
Pakistan beat India 1-0 in the final to lift gold while Spain beat Great Britain 2-1 to win bronze.
Results for India:
India trounced Denmark 10-0, the Netherlands 4-1 and New Zealand 3-0 in the group matches. India beat Australia 1-0 in the quarterfinal and Great Britain 1-0 in the semifinal but lost to Pakistan by a solitary goal in the final.
Some facts from the 1960 Olympics:
1. Claudius became the first player to play in four Olympics.
2. India's loss to Pakistan in the final was its first ever in the Olympics. Till that match, India had won all its matches (30) scoring 197 goals against conceding just 8.
3. Pakistan became the third Olympic hockey gold winners after the Great Britain and India in 52 years since the sport was first introduced in the mega event in 1908.
Next: India reclaim hockey gold in 1964 Games.
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