Ashok Kumar (field hockey)
Encyclopedia
Ashok Kumar is a famous Indian hockey player from Jhansi.
He is the son of the Indian hockey legend Dhyanchand but for him to emulate his father was a stupendous task. He brought glory to his family when he bagged the Arjuna Award
in 1974 and one year later scored the winning goal against Pakistan to achieve India's lone triumph in the World cup.
Born on 1 June 1950 at Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, Ashok started playing hockey when just six years old. He played for junior school team and graduated to club level hockey, representing Uttar Pradesh continuously for four years. Even at the young age, his extraordinary ball control and flair for the game was evident, prompting experts to draw hasty comparisons.
He played for Rajasthan University in 1966-67 and All India Universities 1968-69. Thereafter, he moved to Calcutta to play for Mohun Bagan Club and represented Bengal in the National Championship in Bangalore
in 1971. He later joined Indian Airlines as Senior Flight Purser and represented it in national tournaments.
On retirement from active sports career, he was appointed Manager of hockey teams of Indian Airlines and Air-India. He made his international debut in 1970 when he was included in the teams Asian Games in Bangkok
, losing the title to Pakistan, He also took part in 1974 and 1978 Asian Games held at Teheran and Bangkok respectively winning Silver Medal in those two Asiads.
Ashok twice represented India in the Olympic Games
, first in 1972 at Munich
and then in 1976 at Montreal
. In 1972, India finished third settling for a Bronze; and in 1976, India finished seventh, not finishing in top three for the first time since 1928. He played the Pesta Sukha International Tournament in Singapore
in 1971 and captained the team to the 1979 Esenda Hockey Tournament at Perth
. He played for All-Asian Star team in 1974 anda selected twice for the World XI team.
He was member of the team that won Bronze at the first World Cup at Barcelona
in 1971 and Silver at the second World Cup in Amsterdam in 1973. The highlight of his career was the 1975 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur
where he scored the all-important goal to win the Gold Medal for India. On a pass from Surjit, Ashok cracked the ball goalwards. The ball hit the corner of the post, and bounced out. But for a fraction of a second the ball was in the goal and despite protests by Pakistan, the Malaysian umpire confirmed the goal. His fourth and last appearance in the World Cup in Argentina saw India being relegated to sixth position.
He is the son of the Indian hockey legend Dhyanchand but for him to emulate his father was a stupendous task. He brought glory to his family when he bagged the Arjuna Award
Arjuna award
The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll....
in 1974 and one year later scored the winning goal against Pakistan to achieve India's lone triumph in the World cup.
Born on 1 June 1950 at Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, Ashok started playing hockey when just six years old. He played for junior school team and graduated to club level hockey, representing Uttar Pradesh continuously for four years. Even at the young age, his extraordinary ball control and flair for the game was evident, prompting experts to draw hasty comparisons.
He played for Rajasthan University in 1966-67 and All India Universities 1968-69. Thereafter, he moved to Calcutta to play for Mohun Bagan Club and represented Bengal in the National Championship in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
in 1971. He later joined Indian Airlines as Senior Flight Purser and represented it in national tournaments.
On retirement from active sports career, he was appointed Manager of hockey teams of Indian Airlines and Air-India. He made his international debut in 1970 when he was included in the teams Asian Games in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, losing the title to Pakistan, He also took part in 1974 and 1978 Asian Games held at Teheran and Bangkok respectively winning Silver Medal in those two Asiads.
Ashok twice represented India in the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, first in 1972 at Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and then in 1976 at Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. In 1972, India finished third settling for a Bronze; and in 1976, India finished seventh, not finishing in top three for the first time since 1928. He played the Pesta Sukha International Tournament in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in 1971 and captained the team to the 1979 Esenda Hockey Tournament at Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. He played for All-Asian Star team in 1974 anda selected twice for the World XI team.
He was member of the team that won Bronze at the first World Cup at Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
in 1971 and Silver at the second World Cup in Amsterdam in 1973. The highlight of his career was the 1975 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
where he scored the all-important goal to win the Gold Medal for India. On a pass from Surjit, Ashok cracked the ball goalwards. The ball hit the corner of the post, and bounced out. But for a fraction of a second the ball was in the goal and despite protests by Pakistan, the Malaysian umpire confirmed the goal. His fourth and last appearance in the World Cup in Argentina saw India being relegated to sixth position.