India : Asian Hockey Champions 1966

December 31, 1966

India : Asian Hockey Champions 1966

A commemorative postage stamp on Indian Gold Medal in field hockey at 1966 Asiad Games in Bangkok, Thailand :

Issued by India

Issued on Dec 31, 1966

Issued for : As a tribute to the glorious success of the Indian hockey team in the Fifth Asian Games at Bangkok the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is to bring out a special commemorative stamp on the 31^st December, 1966.

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Monastral Blue

Denomination : 15 Paisa

Overall Size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.

Printing Size : 3.56 X 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Watermark : Printed on unwatermarked paper

Number Printed : 20,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Designed and Printed at : India Security Press

About :

With India‘s victory over Pakistan in the Asian Games at Bangkok on the 19^th December, 1966 we have once again displayed to the world our supremacy in this great game of skill, courage, stamina, artistry and team-work. The capacity crowds which witnessed the hockey final at Bangkok were thrilled to watch the wonderful stick work of the Indian team. Our players displayed unmatched skill particularly in short-passing and dribbling. India eventually emerged in a blaze of glory when during the first half of extra time Balbir Singh (Railways) gave a pass to his inside right and receiving it back swooped into the circle and scored a goal through a brilliant angular shot after both the teams had battled for 70 minutes without results.
By this resounding victory, India, the Olympic Champions, wrested the Asian hockey championship from Pakistan who won it in 1958 at Tokyo on the basis of the goal average and again at Djakarta four years later. It was in 1928 that India won the hockey title in the Olympic at Amsterdam by defeating Holland. Our latest success is in keeping with the high traditions set by the hockey wizard Dhyan Chand.
The Indian victory in hockey at Bangkok has been the result of selfless team-work, great skill, courage, determination and good organisation of which the country is justly proud.