Looking back at India’s campaign in 1962 Jakarta Asian Games

The Indian Team won the gold medal for the second time in 1962, after clinching it for the first time in 1951

The Indian Men’s Football Team are set to participate in the upcoming 2023 Asian Games, after failing to get a spot for the 2018 edition. Indian Football had to fight tooth and nail to get their two national teams sent for the Asian Games as the Selection Committee was initially not ready to send them to China due to their low ranking.

However, a protest from the fans and those involved in Indian football compelled the decision-makers to send them to the tournament. India will now have to make a tough climb to strongly contest for a medal, knowing that they haven’t won a gold medal in the Asian Games in over 60 years.

Remembering India’s heroics at the 1962 Jakarta Asian games

Indeed, the last time that the Indian Football Team grabbed gold in the Asian Games was way back in the 1962 Asian Games. The Blue Tigers were undergoing their ‘golden era’ at that time, and towards the end of Syed Abdul Rahim’s stint as their iconic manager.

Despite their reputation as a sturdy national team that had given a tough fight to teams like Hungary and France (drawing against the latter) in the 1960 Olympics, India were still the underdogs heading into the Jakarta Asian Games.

The Indian side had the worst possible start in a tough group, losing their opening game to South Korea by a 2-0 margin. They were outwitted and outplayed by their fellow Asian side, with the loss being a major blow to their chances of making it past the group stages.

How India bounced back from opening game loss

However, Rahim motivated his players to recover from it strongly and bring their very best to the table going. They responded to the loss in spectacular fashion, defeating hosts Thailand in a huge 4-1 margin. PK Banerjee scored a brace, with Chuni Goswami and Tulsidas Balaram also getting into the act with one goal apiece.

India’s final group game was against an intimidating Japan side, that were overwhelming favorites for a medal. However, Rahim’s side showed no signs of intimidation at all and totally outplayed Japan. They frustrated them with some sturdy defensive work and moved the ball around before ousting them in the second half.

Banerjee and Balaram got in the act again with two impressive goals, with the win booking a place for India in the semi-finals. In the semi-final, India would face a South Vietnam side that had scored nine goals and conceded just one goal in the group stages.

India, inspired by Rahim’s tactics, were able to unlock their weaknesses and play out an absolute thriller in the semis. They produced some slick attacking football in the first half to race into a 2-0 lead, thanks to goals from Chuni Goswami and Jarnail Singh. However, South Vietnam bit back in the second half.

That memorable final and Syed Abdul Rahim’s influence

They found out some of the Blue Tigers’ issues and would go on to earn a penalty in the 52nd minute, which was converted by Phan Duong Cam. Twelve minutes later, Do Thoi Vinh scored the equalizer to rock the Indian side and force Rahim into action.

The gaffer urged his side to compose themselves and stick to the plan of taking the fight to the South Vietnam side. This proved to be a masterstroke, as Goswami struck once again in the 75th minute to score a definitive winner after a highly entertaining game.

With this win, India were guaranteed at least the silver medal in the final – something that Indian football had never achieved in the Asian Games. But what they would produce in the gold medal match against South Korea, who had won the 1960 Asian Cup before this, was something truly historic.

There are many tales about how India prepared for this terrifying finale against arguably Asia’s best. Ahead of the final, Rahim – who was in an ongoing battle with cancer at the time –  had asked this from his players: “Kal aap logon se mujhe ek tohfa chahiye…. kal aap sona jitlo (I want a gift from you tomorrow….the gold medal’)”

This came to some as an admission that he would not be able to continue his role as India’s manager for long due to his cancer and served as the ultimate motivation for the players. The Indian side was totally fearless in the final and started the game with remarkable spirits that absolutely bamboozled the South Korean players.

They did not know what hit them as India took a quick-fire two-goal lead within the first 20 minutes, with PK Banerjee and Jarnail Singh both getting among the goals. They held on to the lead up until the 85th minute, when Cha Tae-sung got a goal back. However, the Indian side would not be ousted on the day and recorded a historic win, winning the Gold Medal – marking the only time they’ve won the medal in the football category in Asian Games history.

Fast-forward 62 years to that and the Indian national team now aim to replicate their ‘Golden Generation’s heroics at the Hangzhou Asian Games. It remains to be seen how far the Blue Tigers can go this time around, but even a bronze medal could kick-start a special era and prove that Indian football is definitely on the rise.

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