It took India a span of 16 years to once again etch their name in history books when they took away the 1980 Olympic Games gold medal in Moscow. The team sent was a pretty young one but they showed superb game and were able to pull off a great show.
The U.S-led boycott over the Russian presence in Afghanistan marred the Games as six of the strongest hockey sides New Zealand, Australia and Pakistan, West Germany and Holland withdrew from the Olympics. Thus it was expected of India to bring home the gold medal.
India became the favourites in the tournament as well. In the final they met Spain and won 4-3. Well the pundits suggest that this win by the Indian team wasn’t much significant but it was quite enough to stop the ever growing downfall of the Indian Hockey and moreover, their rankings.
