7 times Indian football team punched above their weight in international tournaments

1962 Asian Games, Jakarta

In the 1962 Asian games, a total of 11 teams participated in football. But Taiwan and Burma withdrew and Indonesian government refused to issue visas for Israel. So, the teams reduced to eight and were divided into two groups. India were in group B along with Japan, Asian champions South Korea and Thailand.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Peter Thangaraj, Prodyut Burman

Backs: O. Chandrashekar, Jarnail Singh, Trilok Singh, Arun Ghosh, D.M.K. Afzal

Half Backs: Fortunata A. Franco, Ram Bahadur, Prasanto Sinha

Forwards: P.K. Banerjee, Chuni Goswami(C), Tulsidas Balaram, Ethiraj, Mohammed Yousuf Khan, Arumai Nayagam

Coach: Syed Abdul Rahim Manager: Nurul Amin

Chuni Goswami was the star performer for India

India lost their first match to South Korea 2-0. In the next match against Thailand, India won 4-1 with goals from Chuni Goswami, Tulsidas Balaram and a brace from P.K. Banerjee. In the final group game against Japan, India produced a fine team performance to win 2-0 with Banerjee and Balaram getting on the score-sheet. India finished second in the group behind South Korea and qualified for the semi-finals.

India were pitted against South Vietnam in the semis and edged out a 3-2 victory in a five-goal thriller. In the finals, India were again going to face the reigning Asian champions South Korea. This time, the Indian team avenged the group-stage defeat with the score-line of 2-1 and again won the gold after 1951.