LEO PINTO says ‘Bring Back the Glory’

India has always looked to our field hockey team to bring home the Olympic medals. But there was disappoint this time. Fortune has not favored Indian hockey 2008 Olympics as our hockey team did not even qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games. The real reason cannot be penned down in a single sentence but our preparations weren’t good and the team crumbled under pressure. We should learn from this and push forward.

India still holds the world record in the number of times it has brought home the gold medal in Men’s Field hockey from 1928 until today. We all have a wish that we continue the good work in the future Olympics starting from the games in London coming up in 2012.

The last time we went to London for the Olympics in 1948 we brought home the gold. India had defeated Britain by 4-0 on 12th Sep 1948, to win its fourth consecutive gold medal. This was the first time that the flag of independent India was raised upon winning the medal, a truly proud moment for every Indian.

Leo Hillary Knowles Pinto was the goalkeeper of the Men’s Field Hockey National Team at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. At the age of 94, Leo Pinto tends to forget the small insignificant things but I can tell you this, he remembers everything about his game, his training, the perseverance and dedication to the sport and his gold medal. He proudly adorned his Olympic blazer and tie from 1948.

They may be a little weathered, none the less well kept and a prized possession along with his medal as well as the commemorative medal. These are the man’s treasures and he preserves them well. He lives in the suburbs of Bandra, Mumbai with his daughter Susan Pinto who is as hard working and diligent in her field of expertise; the piano.

Leo was a very committed and fearless player. He would have gone to play the 1936 Olympics with Dhyan Chand but he was injured “I was in the hospital. I broke my collar bone and I was bleeding from the ear” They did not have all that padding and protection. Goalkeepers had a pair of gloves and some thin shin guards. “I only had one glove and pads.” Those days the gear was very different. The hockey stick has also changed over a period of time. Because of the world war we did not have 1940 & 1944 Olympics. Despite his injuries he did not stop aspiring for his dream to make India proud at the Olympic Games. He had to wait for twelve years to make it a reality.

He once wrote an article “If we played today we would win”. His affectionate chuckle in remembrance of old times was so endearing.”I took a penalty bully against the British Capt Brodie, I took him on.” India played five matches during that Olympics and scored 17 goals, he let go only 02 as the goalie. “Holland was the best game I played and I saved India multiple saves.”

Bring back the glory to our nation! His Message to the youth is to be hardworking and committed and start young. Synthetic playing turfs (AstroTurf) was introduced in the late 1970’s.

The artificial surface required a vastly different style of play from that traditionally practiced technique used by the Indian players. “The game has changed completely, there is no dribbling. India and Pakistan were the minority and rest of the world was ready for the Astroturf. The game is better and faster on Astroturf. We need much more Astroturf fields for all the young players. Now days our players have so much stress, see the amount of studies they have to do.”

The youth need to be provided with proper infrastructure and the players should be given ample incentives by putting so-called ‘glamour’ in it, so that they get attracted and perform on the field. More stadiums with modern facilities should be constructed to tap the young talent.

“Youngsters should be encouraged from young age it is hard work that you have to do. Old time players were more skilled and could maneuver the ball very well now Astroturf is very different and needs a lot of practice. Players in those days did not play for money, now it’s different.”

“I was a small fellow in the goal. I use to practice a lot, with a ping pong ball, golf ball, tennis ball. I played Table tennis to train my eyes to stay on the ball. There were no coaches each one played on his own, now there are coaches.”
We can’t revive a sport only by forming a panel and a chain of committee. We must have long-term and short-term plans ready for junior and senior levels. We should over come all the pitfalls we have and make it to the next Olympics to win. All it takes is diligence and commitment at individual and team levels.

94 and still going strong the youth of today has a lot to learn from Leo Pinto, in order to win all you need is a strong will. A win in the 2012 would be a wonderful gift to this legend.