Top 10 Hockey Players of India with the Most Olympic Medals: India has a long and illustrious history in the sport of field hockey, having won a total of twelve medals at the Olympics. Out of these, eight are gold medals, making them one of the most successful teams in the world when it comes to the sport. With so many incredible players to have represented India, it’s hard to pick the best.
Let’s have a look at the top 10 hockey players of India with the most medals at the Olympics
10. Grahanandan Singh (2 medals)
Grahanandan Singh won back-to-back gold medals at the Olympics in 1948 and 1952. The former Vice President of the Asian Hockey Federation played one match each in both campaigns to secure two gold medals for himself.
9. Keshav Dutt (2 medals)
Oldest Olympians is saddened to learn that Keshav Dutt, born December 29, 1925, who won gold medals for India in the field hockey tournaments at the 1948 and 1952 Summer Games, died July 7 at the age of 95.https://t.co/TngqtsQ4dX pic.twitter.com/aPmHBoXAxt
— Oldest Olympians (@OldestOlympians) July 10, 2021
Considered one of India’s best center half-backs, Keshav Dutt won two Olympic gold medals in 1948 and 1952. He made 22 international appearances for India in a career that spanned nine years and was the first non-footballer to receive the Mohun Bagan award in 2019.
8. Prithipal Singh (3 medals)
Nicknamed the “King of Short Corners,” Prithipal Singh has won three Olympic medals for India, including gold, silver, and bronze medals. Playing mostly as a halfback, he was a prolific goal scorer and scored 11 out of the 22 goals that India scored in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, where India won the gold medal.
7. Shankar Lakshman (3 medals)
Shankar Lakshman was a goalkeeper and the first goalkeeper in history to captain an international hockey team. He won three Olympic medals for India, including two golds and a silver. Lakshman was named the man of the match in the final of the 1964 Olympic match against Pakistan.
6. Ranganathan Francis (3 medals)
HCCB pays tribute to three-time Olympic #goldmedallist hockey legend Ranganathan Francis and his service to the sport, on his birth anniversary.#Olympics @TheHockeyIndia #IndianKaGame
— Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (@HCCB_Official) March 15, 2022
Image Courtesy: TOI pic.twitter.com/L4N7jvxCJd
Ranganathan Francis won three Olympic gold medals for India as a goalkeeper in the squad when India won three consecutive gold medals in 1948, 1952, and 1956. He was mostly the second-choice goalkeeper in all three campaigns.
5. Randhir Singh Gentle (3 medals)
Randhir Singh Gentle played as a fullback for the Indian team that won three consecutive Olympic gold medals from 1948 to 1956. He was especially instrumental in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, where he also captained the team.
4. Richard Allen (3 medals)
Richard Allen is the only goalkeeper in India, along with Ranganathan Francis, to have won three Olympic gold medals. Allen’s three gold medals came in India’s three consecutive triumphs in 1928, 1932, and 1936. In the 1928 Olympics, he played in five matches without conceding a goal.
3. Dhyan Chand (3 medals)
Dhyan Chand is widely considered the best Indian hockey player ever and one of the best to have ever played the game. Known as “The Wizard,” he led India to three Olympic triumphs in 1928, 1932, and 1936, scoring 33 goals in those tournaments. Chand played 185 international matches for India, scoring 570 goals.
2. Udham Singh Kular (4 medals)
Udham Singh Kular is one of the most decorated hockey players of Indian history, having won three golds and a silver for India. The gold medals came in 1952, 1956, and 1964, and the silver came in the 1958 Olympics. He was a versatile player and played in a number of different positions.
1. Leslie Claudius (4 medals)
Leslie Claudius is the most decorated Indian hockey player in the Olympics with four medals to his name, which include three golds and a silver. The halfback was part of the Indian squad that won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 1948, 1952 and 1956. He also won a silver medal in the 1960 Olympics. Claudius was known for his superb dribbling and passing abilities and was considered one of the best halfbacks in the world during his time.
Top 10 Hockey Players of India with the Most Olympic Medals: Indian Hockey has a rich history, and it’s no surprise that some of the greatest players in the game have been from India. The list of the top 10 Indian hockey players with the most medals at the Olympics is a testament to their dominance in the sport. From Leslie Claudius, who is the most decorated Indian hockey player with four Olympic medals, to Dhyan Chand, who is widely considered the greatest Hockey Players of India ever, these players have left an indelible mark on the sport.
The contributions of these Hockey Players of India to Indian hockey have inspired generations of players and fans alike. While some of these players have passed away, their legacy lives on and continues to inspire the current generation of Hockey Players of India!
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