The Olympics that changed the history
The 61st minute penalty corner goal was the last of legendary Michal Krause’s ten thundering goals he posted in Munich, but the one that changed the goalposts of global hockey once for all.
For many its Black September episode that revives the memory of Munich Olympics, but for the hockey connoisseurs it’s consequences of Michael Krause’s stunning winner that takes is talked about.
Monopoly of two unlikely giants of Olympic sport has been broken, and with exceptions apart, once for all at Munich.
1972 Munich Olympics is in many ways a Mutiny Olympics of sort for the global hockey.
It was unusual, unexpected and wholly irreversible as turned out be later.
Two unlikely giants of a Olympic sport, India and Pakistan — who have been dominating the field hockey scene since 1928 — has been done in at Munich.
The giants could not get up thereafter, so much so in the decades that followed even being there in the Olympic theatre had become a task in itself.
After the defending champions India was dethroned in the Mexico semi-finals, Pakistan ascended to the throne.
The Olympic gold stayed with Asia, however.
Since 1956 to 1964, the finalists were from Asia, before that it was exclusively Indian domain.
India and Pak shared three continuous Olympic finals, Melbourne, Rome and Tokyo.
In 1968, Pakistan held the Asian flag high in their straight fourth Olympic final entry.
The Munich saw the mutation.
Australia drowned India in the Mexico semis, but Germany did the same to Australia in the final.
One Asian in the final starting from 1928 legacy continued, with Pakistan taking on the home side.
Events were many, but the 61st minute goal off Michael Krause that came after earlier attempt was believed to have hit the foot of first charger Ishlahuddin Siddique of Pakitan, crashed in to the cage off kneeling goalie Munnawar.
The 1-0 goals sustained, despite Pakistan doing everything including a couple of penalty corners. Germany withstood to rewrite the history.
Pakistan thereafter misbehaved during the medals presentation ceremony even a player was alleged to have hung the medal on his foot. The team was banned from participation from international tournament for many years, but intervention at top political level and apology cut short the punishment.
The resilent Pakistan, without many stars, went on to win the World Cup in a year’s time is a different story.
However, once the mental block of invincibility of India-Pak suzerainty is broken, every surprised happened subsequently.
The Munich, the last Olympics on natural grass, thus turned out to be a watershed. Thereafter, with the introduction of synthetic surface, new nations started winning Olympic Gold, New Zealand in 1976 to start with.
India and Pakistan however hardly woke up, though India won the gold at the depleted Moscow, Pakistan in 1984. Except a brief revival at Sydney, Pakistan could not find its moorings. It did not even qualify for the Rio number.
For India, the fate is almost same, failed to be at the Asian number Beijing.
Munich mutiny therefore is historic, worth recollection for all it portends.
Photo: German captain receives gold medal, while Indian captain Harmik Singh looks on from the background.