Says Jaswant Singh Rajput, who won hockey golds at the London and Helsinki Games
During our time it was only the pride that ruled our hearts. I was delighted to get a chance to represent the nations first hockey side after Independence. I was thrilled and so were others. It was in London in 1948 where we struck the gold to re-establish our supremacy in the world hockey.
The fact that we struck the gold medal is even more pleasing. I feel that side was the best ever side after Independence and we won on merit. We beat the Great Britain in the final a year after we snatched Independence from them. Since we were rated the best side even before the Olympics started, we didnt get any chance to do anything else apart from strategising for the upcoming match or chalking out plans to stop someone dangerous on the opponents attack. Leslie Claudius, Fernandez and many others who were part of the squad and we stayed as a whole unit till the final hooter.
It still sends down a shiver down the spine when I think of the two Olympics I took part. I also played in the next edition in 1952 held in Helsinki. It was a bit easier for me that time as I already had an experience of playing in the Olympics. In Helsinki, we outplayed Austria 4-0 and Great Britain 3-1 in the group league to advance into the final where The Netherlands were the opponents. We won quite convincingly (6-1) over them too, to pick up our second straight gold medal.
Even today, if I think of those days, I feel honoured which perhaps the present lot doesnt. Now its all about money and no love for the country. For me, love for the country stood supreme and we were lucky to be part of the history.
—As told to Sanjib Guha