India Celebrates 100 Glorious Years of Hockey with Grand Celebration at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium

New Delhi, Nov 7: Indian hockey's glorious 100-year journey was celebrated in spectacular fashion at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Friday (November 7) as the Sports Authority of India (SAI)

and Hockey India jointly hosted the Centenary Celebrations of Indian Hockey - an event honouring the sport's legacy, legends, and resurgence.

The celebration - marking a century since India's first international hockey appearance in 1925 - was attended by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour & Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju, Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin, Minister of Sports and Youth Services, Odisha Shri Suryabanshi Suraj, FIH President Dato Tayyab Ikram, along with hockey legends, dignitaries, and current national team players.

"Hockey Gave India Pride of Place in the Olympics": Mandaviya

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the emotional connection between India and hockey, calling the sport "a symbol of national pride. "

"It was through hockey at the Olympics that we showed the world what India can achieve in sports. We have never looked back since. With its rich history, Indian hockey is once again on the rise and moving towards another Olympic medal," he said.

He added that the government remains committed to nurturing the sport's future. "As over 1,000 matches are being played nationwide today, the entire Bharat revels in this proud moment. The Government of India will continue to support our players and the sport in every possible way. "

Historic Gathering of Icons

Minister Kiren Rijiju lauded Hockey India for "honouring our greats alongside the current stars," calling it a perfect blend of India's rich history and promising future.

FIH President Dato Tayyab Ikram paid tribute to India's global legacy in hockey, noting that "India has led the way in world hockey through 100 years of resilience and innovation. " He commended India's resurgence at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, expressing confidence that "the next 100 years will be even brighter. "

Exhibition Match and Felicitation of Legends

An exhibition match between Sports Minister's XI, led by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, and Hockey India XI, captained by Dr. Dilip Tirkey, kicked off the festivities. The Sports Ministry XI triumphed 3-1, with goals from Beauty Dungdung, Salima Tete, and Krishna Pathak, while Manpreet Singh scored for Hockey India XI.

Hockey India also felicitated 12 legendary players who have contributed immensely to the sport, including Gurbux Singh, Harbinder Singh, Ajith Pal Singh, Ashok Kumar, B.P. Govinda, Aslam Sher Khan, Zafar Iqbal, Brig. Harcharan Singh, Vineet Kumar, Romeo James, Asunta Lakra, and Subhadra Pradhan.

Unveiling "100 Years of Indian Hockey"

The centenary event also saw the launch of the commemorative book "100 Years of Indian Hockey", chronicling the sport's journey from the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics to its modern revival. A special photo exhibition displayed rare archival images and memorabilia capturing India's golden moments and the evolution of the national game.

Reflecting the theme "A Nation United in Celebration", a Nationwide Hockey Festival was held across 500 districts, engaging over 36,000 players in 1,000 exhibition matches. The initiative brought together school athletes, veterans, and community teams, transforming the milestone into a people's movement.

A Look Ahead: Junior World Cup 2025 Trophy Tour

With Tamil Nadu set to host the FIH Men's Junior World Cup 2025, the event also marked the start of a 20-city trophy tour, beginning in New Delhi.

To conclude the evening, renowned singer and composer Siddharth Mahadevan delivered an energetic live performance, adding a festive tone to the centenary celebrations.

Dr. Dilip Tirkey, President of Hockey India, reflected on the significance of the day, "Today is a tribute to those who laid the foundation for Indian hockey a century ago and to every player who brought glory to the nation. With the Government of India's immense support, many more moments of pride await us. "

Shri Bholanath Singh, Secretary General of Hockey India, added, "This moment belongs to the entire hockey fraternity. We thank our State Member Units, coaches, players, and fans for keeping the spirit of hockey alive across India. "