Vadodara: After defeating Germany of 5-4 to win a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, the Indian Hockey team received a call from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and they thanked him for his inspiration after losing their semi-finals.
The trainers told Modi that his conversation motivated the team to perform well.
Exactly 85 years ago in August, the Indian hockey team led by Major Dhyanchand also needed motivation while enjoying Germany in the Hockey final at the Berlin 1936 Olympics.
And, it was Maharaja Ijoo Gaekwad from State Baroda, which Pep Talk raised the morale of the team during the round first.
Chandrashekhar’s historian and art curator Patil said, “Maharaja Ijirao has been going to Germany in 1936 to watch the Berlin Olympics.
He witnessed the final of the Hockey between India and Germany from the stadium pavilion where Adolf Hitler was also present.” “In the first round, the Indian team can scored only one goal and Ijirao noticed that the players were struggling.
So he decided to meet the players in the first round.
The players told him that they struggled to play properly in a position because they were used to playing naked feet.
Ijirao has given them Shoes to play in the final, “said Patil Toi.
“The king immediately asked them to take out their shoes and play their natural game.
The team was a little nervous because he played against Germany in Germany.
Ijirao gave Pep talking with great Dhyanchand and team, and asked them to win the final,” Patil added.
Dhyanchand scored three goals in the second half and India beat Germany 8-1 to win a gold medal.