History has come a full circle for Indian hockey. South Korea stopped India’s first Asian Games gold in 1958. Down 48 years, the same Koreans are at it, throwing India outside medals zone at the same Asian summit. Two different situations as of 1958 at Tokyo number and now at Doha, but on both occasions India had to hit a historical low. And, how?

Within three months after Naval H. Tata opted out as the president of Indian Hockey Federation, his successor Ashwini Kumar faced an acid test — the Asian Games. Only concern at the 1958 IHF’s Bombay Executive Committee meeting, which elected Ashwini for the top post, was to ensure gold at Tokyo Asiad, where due to the efforts of Guru Dutt Sondhi and Raja Bhalindera Singh, then IOC members in India, two team games — volleyball and hockey — were introduced.

The new IHF president was in for shock shortly. For the first time in its famed history, India finished second in any competition in hockey as happened at Tokyo. In the five team competition, India and Pakistan, who two years ago played the Melbourne Olympic final, played out a goal-less draw. Yet Pakistan could pip umbilical India to a second spot on goal average. It was the new nation Pakistan’s finest hour, first gold, while India’s first ever taste of defeat. Triple Olympic gold medalist Babir Singh, our Tokyo captain, never got to play for India again. Pakistan went on to win its first Olympic gold two years later at the same Tokyo city.

India was done in by the Korean factor at Tokyo Asiad. Neighbours India and Pakistan defeated Malaysia on identical score (6-0) while India overwhelmed Japan 8-0 and Pakistan 5-0 over the same rival. Thus India had three goal advantage, but it was rendered useless, as Pakistan would outplay Korea 8-0 whereas India could just manage a 2-1 win over same Korea. The whipping boy of 50s, the Koreans, gave enormous worries to India and Ashwini Kumar barely could hold on to his seat.

Ashwini Kumar and Balbir Singh (Sr.) are around us to witness repeat of history. The duo would just wonder why they were subjected to such a criticism then despite bringing a silver medal!

Korea of yester years and now are a different proposition. The sitting duck of 50s and 60s, has transformed to become a virtual giant killer in the l80s and 90s. For the first time Pakistan went medal-less at Busan as the Korean would shut their door in the semis, leaving Paul Lissek’s Malaysia to do the rest in the bronze play off. India needed an outright win at Doha on Sunday to reach the semis, but despite playing at their half pace the Koreans walked away with a draw.

Twenty years after India finished 12th at the World Cup (Wilesdon, London in 1986) and two months after getting 11 th position at another World Cup (Monchengladbach, Germany), Indian agony is repeated at Doha. London agony is at least understandable as the Seoul Asiad was played within a fortnight after the World Cup. Doha debacle has no excuse. Or, explanation. A great heritage is buried under the dunes of Doha.