Sports without rivalry is food without salt. Hockey, despite being a lone, virtual amateur paradise, is not without its share of such rivalries.

For long, even now, the hockey world thinks India-Pakistan contests are the ones that deserve this tag.

They are right, and it will remain so.

However, the first rivalry in hockey is not when a German team was overdosed with alcoholic drinks so that they had to miss out an Olympic final. If at all, it deserved to be categorized as the joking phase of early hockey.

It is Indian and English hockey that’s hockey world’s first genuine rivalry.

It was there in the pre-independent era and then came back in the 80s to haunt India. A rivalry that continues endure even now.

But unfortunately it lasted for almost three decades even both of them not meeting on the turf!

When the first Indian team landed in England it was received by none other than pre-Dhyan Chand era’s Dhyan Chand, Stanley Shoveller – who got the British two Olympic gold.

Indian team played Folkstone Festival giving a glimpse of what the stuff they are made of. This has sent shivers down the spine of the British, who were than our political masters.

British or England hockey teams abstained from Olympics till it had to host the Olympics and the unavoidable clash of England and India took place, where India beat them comprehensively 4-0 in the London Olympics final.

In the 60s down to mid 70s, the English avoided India as much as possible, never able to put it across India, though Germany and Holland came close to beating India, and even doing it on odd occasions.

Its almost after 50 years since India first played its first International, England could defeat India, it was in the late 70s.

In the 80s, when the Indians were clueless how to convert penalty corners which they earned in numbers in that spell, it was the English teams that came to haunt the Indians.

India was a draw away from the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and were goalless till the half time. Then came the Sean Kerley’s feat and India lost the tie at 0-3.

In the 80s and till mid 90s, it was England that had taken India’s slot in the top six of the world.

Not to be undone, and asirony would have it, both the rivals were in the same Olympic Qualifiers two years ago. A member of the Seoul Olympics when we lost the semis slot to the British team — Faulkner – was there as Performance Manager, and must have been happy to see his team moves into the Olympic groom.

Now that stakes are high for India at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, the time for either team to showcase the traditional rivalry.

If one still feels English – India rivalry on hockey turfs are less, ask any Indian expatriate — there around one hundred of them in Delhi right now to support India – what’s their choice.

The emotions ran high for them, whenever Indian teams take on the English.

They are not much bothered on the outcome of India-Pak as much as