India’s Goalkeeping Great

Arguably India’s best ever goal keeper, Shankar Laxman, died at the end of April. Playing in an era dominated by India and Pakistan, he boasted a proud record which included playing in four Olympic and Asian Games finals against his country’s traditional rivals without conceding a goal.

Dr Ijaz Chaudhry, a hockey enthusiast based in Sheffield, looks back on his extraordinary career.

Shankar Laxman represented his country for more than a decade (1956-67), playing in three Olympics and three Asian Games, the only two title tournaments of that era.

Born in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh and a soldier by profession, Laxman’s rise was meteoric. His maiden national championship was in 1955 and his outstanding display under the bar instantly attracted the attention of the national selectors.

The next year he was at the Melbourne Olympic Games. The senior goalkeeper in that squad was Francis and while he guarded the Indian goal in most of the games, Laxman was preferred in the final.

The youngster helped India win the gold by keeping a clean sheet against a fine and hungry Pakistan side yearning for its first Olympic title. From that day, Laxman was India’s number one custodian.

The next test was the 1958 Asian Games where hockey was included for the first time. Played as a single league format, Pakistan won the gold on goal average although Laxman kept them scoreless in their encounter against India.

But India subsequently lost their Olympic crown in 1960 and Pakistan collected the Asian Games title in 1962. While Laxman was labeled one of the scapegoats in the final, the absence of influential centre half Charanjit due to injury in 10th minute was the main factor in India’s defeat. With the prevailing rules, India had to play the rest of the match with 10 men.

All this lit the fire in Laxman. So at the 1964 Olympics he had something to prove.

For third successive time, it was an Indo-Pak final. Pakistan determined to show that their victory four years previous was no fluke and for India that it was only an aberration. It turned out to be a classic encounter. The first half ended goal-less.

Within five minutes of restart, India took the lead. This further intensified the battle. With time running out, the Pakistanis became desperate. They attacked with vengeance. Their forwards created numerous chances and earned many penalty corners. But that day, Laxman had the game of his life.

Without the protective gear of today, Laxman blunted all the attempts.

Pakistan had a penalty corner in the last minute which was taken by Muneer Dar, the most fearful striker of his day. Laxman stopped it on his chest which was followed by three attempts on the rebound. India regained the lost gold and Laxman was easily the man of the match.

But even more glory awaited. The diminutive man created history as he became the first goalkeeper ever to lead India – at the 1966 Asian Games.

As anticipated, in the final India met Pakistan (who were incidentally led by his great foe Muneer Dar). It was a keenly contested game with attacking play from both the sides.

As always, Laxman guarded his citadel as if his life depended on it and produced many excellent saves. Once again India’s solitary goal enabled them to win the Asian gold for the first time.

Laxman appeared in six finals against Pakistan (three Olympics and three Asian Games). And in four of those matches, against the side which possessed the most dangerous forward line of that era coupled with penalty corner experts, he did not concede a single goal.

Most of his team mates as well as connoisseurs regarded Laxman’s contribution as the most important factor in India’s success in the final of 1964 Olympics and 1966 Asian Games.

He was technically superb. As one Indian hockey official remarked “He had a real hockey brain. He would know where the ball was going before it was even hit.”

Legendary Dhyan Chand in his autobiography termed courage as the most important of all the attributes of a successful goalkeeper. In those days of unprotected goalies, Laxman was indeed a courageous performer.

So it was fitting that after his death, Laxman, the retired honorary captain, was cremated with full military honours.