For the second time in its history, Tokyo is hosting the Summer Olympics. The Olympics were last staged in this city in 1964. Gurbux Singh led the Indian team to victory against Pakistan in the quadrennial event, making it a landmark summer for hockey enthusiasts. In the 1968 Olympics, he guided India to a third-place finish.
More than half a century has passed since that remarkable accomplishment in Tokyo. The current Indian team, captained by Manpreet Singh, will have the chance to make history when they compete in the Summer Games in Tokyo next month. Gurbux Singh feels the squad has the potential to make history by claiming a podium spot.
Gurbux Singh reminisced about India’s 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games campaign, in which they defeated arch-rival Pakistan 1-0 in the final. The pressure was on the Pakistanis, according to Gurbux Singh, because they were the reigning champions.”The last few minutes felt like the longest hours, it felt as though the clock had stopped. When the final whistle was blown, people jumped from the galleries (Milkha Singh, Raja Karni Singh and the whole Indian contingent) jumped into the ground and started doing the bhangra,” Gurbux Singh added.
