The Indian men’s hockey team enjoy a rich Olympic legacy – they have won the Olympic gold medal on most occasions – eight times (1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964 and 1980) – yes, there was a period when the national team won the gold for six consecutive Olympics until Pakistan halted that ‘golden’ run in the 1960 Rome Olympics.
Many have contributed their might for India’s incredible gold-winning journey in the Olympics. The Olympics will be replete with several individual brilliant performances. Let’s take a look at the Indian players, who have attained the milestone of scoring ‘hat-tricks’ at the Olympics.
1) Dhyan Chand: At the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, Dhyan Chand made his Olympic debut against Austria in India’s first encounter. Austria were no match for the power-packed Indians who won the match 6-0 with Dhyan Chand scoring a hat-trick.
2) Feroze Khan: He may have been overshadowed by the presence of Dhyan Chand at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics but he had a good time with the stick at the Games. Khan slammed a hat-trick scoring five goals in India’s 9-0 win over Belgium.
3) Dhyan Chand: The Wizard had already announced himself on the Olympic stage in the first tie against Austria – he continued to prove relentless for the opposition striking a sizzling hat-trick in India’s 5-0 win over Denmark.
4) Dhyan Chand: He was having a purple patch in Amsterdam - Dhyan Chand slammed his third hat-trick in India’s 6-0 win over Switzerland to propel his side into the final where they conquered the Dutch to corner glory.
5) Dhyan Chand: He was playing in his second Olympics in Los Angeles and struck a hat-trick in India’s 11-1 win over Japan.
6) Roop Singh: The younger brother of Dhyan Chand was in the thick of things at the 1932 Olympics, slamming a hat-trick in India’s 11-1 win over Japan.
7) Dhyan Chand: He pumped home his fifth Olympic hat-trick (he has scored three in 1928 Olympics) in India’s world record creating 24-1 win over the USA.
8) Roop Singh: He has racked up his second Olympic hat-trick in India’s world record creating 24-1 win over the USA, scoring ten goals.
9) Dhyan Chand: He led India for the first time on the Olympic stage in the 1936 edition at Berlin. Dhyan Chand literally led from the front scoring a hat-trick in India’s 9-0 drubbing of Japan – he scored four goals in that game.
10) Dhyan Chand: He likes to score in crunch games and in the semifinal against France in Berlin, the Wizard was at his menacing best, slamming a fine hat-trick in India’s 10-0 walloping.
11) Dhyan Chand: He was such a towering figure in India’s first three Olympic campaigns - Dhyan Chand completed his eight Olympic hat-trick in the final of the Berlin Olympics, as Indi whipped Germany 8-1 in the final.
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12) Patrick Jenson: He launched India’s campaign in the 1948 Olympics on a belligerent note, scoring a hat-trick en route to netting four goals in India’s 8-0 win over Austria.
13) Balbir Singh: He made his Olympic debut in the 1948 London edition and marked his arrival in style scoring a hat-trick, netting six goals in India’s 9-1 win over Argentina.
14) Balbir Singh: He was the star of the Indian team at the 1952 Olympics – the responsibility of vice-captaincy meant that Balbir was hungry to score more – he scored a fine hat-trick in India’s semifinal 3-1 win over Great Britain.
15) Balbir Singh: He struck his third Olympic hat-trick in the final of 1952 Olympics final against the Netherlands – scoring five goals in India’s 6-1 demolition of the Dutch, thus setting a new record for scoring most individual goals in an Olympic final match
16) Balbir Singh: He was in great nick in the 1956 Olympics scoring a hat-trick en route to netting five goals in India’s 14-0 thrashing of Afghanistan.
17) Udham Singh Kullar: He was emerging as an exciting young talent in the Indian team – Udham hit a hat-trick scoring four times in India’s 14-0 rout of Afghanistan.
18) Randhir Singh Gentle: The man who led India in the league phase of the 1956 Olympic following the finger injury to Balbir Singh, scored a hat-trick in India’s 14-0 trouncing of Afghanistan.
19) Udham Singh Kullar: High on confidence after his hat-trick against Afghanistan, took the game away from the USA, netting a sizzling hat-trick scoring 7 goals in India’s 16-0 win over the USA.
20) Hardyal Singh Garchey: He had his day under the sun in the 1956 Olympics – scoring a hat-trick in India’s 16-0 drubbing of the USA.
21) Gurdev Singh Kullar: He had a field day in the 1956 Olympics – scoring a hat-trick in India’s 16-0 hammering of USA.
22) Prithipal Singh: This lethal fullback slammed a hat-trick in the 1960 Rome Olympics in India’s 10-0 drubbing of Denmark.
23) Raghbir Bhola: The man who scored the match-winner for India in the quarterfinal against Australia in the 1960 Olympics, scored a hat-trick in India’s big win over Denmark.
24) Harbinder Singh: He scored a hat-trick in India’s 8-0 win over Mexico at the 1968 Olympics.
25) Mukhbain Singh: He imposed himself at the 1972 Munich Olympics scoring a hat-trick in India’s 5-0 win over Great Britain. He became the third Indian after Dhyan Chand and Balbir Singh to score two hat-tricks in the same Olympics when he attained the feat in India’s 3-1 win over Australia.
26) Kulwant Singh: He starred in the 1972 Munich Olympics, scoring a hat-trick in Indias’ 8-0 rout of Mexico.
27) Surinder Sodhi: He was the fulcrum of the Indian forward line at the 1980 Olympics, scoring a hat-trick en route to netting five goals in his side’s 18-0 drubbing of Tanzania.
28) Davinder Singh: He slammed a hat-trick in India’s 18-0 hammering of over Tanzania, scoring four goals.
29) Vasudevan Bhaskaran: Playing in his second Olympics, he led from the front notching up a fine hat-trick, scoring four times in India’s 18-0 hammering of over Tanzania.
30) Surinder Sodhi: He struck his second hat-trick- pumping home four goals in India’s 13-0 drubbing of Cuba.
31) Vineet Sharma: This sturdy fullback stole the show at the 1984 Olympics, scoring a hat-trick in India’s 3-1 win over Malaysia.
