The Sports Authority of India and Hockey India on Friday celebrated the centenary of Indian hockey at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, highlighting a century of sporting excellence, national pride, and unity.
The event was attended by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour & Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya; Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju; Odisha Minister of Sports and Youth Services Suryabanshi Suraj; FIH President Dato Tayyab Ikram; hockey legends; and members of the national teams.
Dr. Mandaviya reflected on the sport’s historic achievements, saying hockey has given India a prominent place at the Olympics. “With its rich history, Indian hockey is once again rising and moving towards another Olympic medal. As the country celebrates with over 1,000 matches nationwide today, the entire nation revels in this proud moment. The Government of India will continue to support our players and the sport in every possible way,” he said.
Kiren Rijiju praised the legacy of Indian hockey, noting the blend of past legends and current stars. “It has been a long and inspiring journey for Indian hockey. Congratulations to all who have been part of this incredible journey,” he said.
FIH President Dato Tayyab Ikram lauded India’s century-long contribution to world hockey and highlighted the country’s recent resurgence at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. “India has led the way in world hockey through 100 years of resilience and innovation. I am confident the next 100 years will be even brighter,” he added.
An exhibition match between the Sports Ministry XI, led by Dr. Mandaviya, and the Hockey India XI, led by Dr. Dilip Tirkey, ended 3–1 in favour of the Sports Ministry team, with goals from Beauty Dungdung, Salima Tete, and Krishna Pathak, while Manpreet Singh scored for the Hockey India XI.
The ceremony also honoured the sport’s most celebrated legends, including Gurbux Singh, Harbinder Singh, Ajith Pal Singh, Ashok Kumar, B.P. Govinda, Aslam Sher Khan, Zafar Iqbal, Brigadier Harcharan Singh VSM, Vineet Kumar, Romeo James, Asunta Lakra, and Subhadra Pradhan.
A commemorative book, “100 Years of Indian Hockey,” chronicling the sport’s journey, was launched, alongside a special photo exhibition showcasing archival photographs, Olympic moments, and memorabilia tracing Indian hockey from the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics to the present day.
With Tamil Nadu set to host the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025, the tournament trophy was displayed as part of a 20-city trophy tour. Singer and composer Siddharth Mahadevan performed live, adding to the festive atmosphere.
The centenary celebrations extended nationwide through the Hockey Festival, engaging over 36,000 players across 500 districts in more than 1,000 exhibition matches. Dr. Dilip Tirkey, President of Hockey India, said the event paid tribute to those who laid the foundation for Indian hockey and acknowledged the Government of India’s support.
Bholanath Singh, Secretary General of Hockey India, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders and State Member Units for their contributions, stating, “This moment belongs to the entire hockey fraternity, and we are proud to be celebrating it across every state.”