You all know the tough process of qualification for World Cup Football. It's too difficult and when the national team of a country qualifies for World Cup Football then the entire nation celebrates the success of their team. For the last two weeks, I wrote many times that no country from South Asia could ever qualify for World Cup Football. I am happy to admit that I am wrong. India did qualify for World Cup Football 1950 but did not participate. In fact, India had a very glorious history in World Football from 1950 to 1964. I am quoting from an article of Daily Pioneer written by Dina Nath Mishra:
"It may be recalled in 1950 the Indian football team qualified for the world cup in Brazil. But the country did not have enough foreign exchange to send the team there. And thereafter India never qualified again. In the Olympic of 1952 our barefoot team bravely fought and carved out a place on international level. In the Melbourne Olympic of 1956 the Indian team with boots finished fourth. In those days India used to be one of the Asian super powers in football."
Then India clinched the second position in Asian Cup 1964. According to Mr. Mishra, India did not participate in 1950 World Cup Football (held in Brazil) because of monetary problem. On the other hand, according to BBC, " India pulled out because Fifa would not let them play in bare feet." Thus, you can see that opinions are divided about India's not taking part in World Cup 1950.
In another article of BBC I found this, " The country qualified regularly for the Olympics until the 1960s, and were invited to the 1950 World Cup in Brazil but the problems of a long sea journey and the fact that they still played in bare feet prevented them from appearing." Thus it is too confusing to find out the real reason of India's not taking part in World Cup 1950. I have found 3 possible reasons:
a. India did not have foreign exchange to send its football team to Brazil.
b. Indian players did not have habit of playing with shoes.
c. Indian players were reluctant to make such a long sea voyage.
I also found an interesting entry in Soccer Blog. I am quoting it:
"No, don't rub your eyes in disbelief. India did make it to the 1950 World Cup finals. Well sort of. Four countries from Asia were invited to participate in the qualifiers. Burma, Philippines and Indonesia all withdrew, so India qualified automatically.
India was placed in Group 3 with Sweden, Italy, and Paraguay. But their request to play barefoot was turned down by FIFA and they withdrew!
Abibi Bikila, the great Ethiopian runner ran barefoot winning the marathon gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Who knows what India could have done playing barefoot at the 1950 World Cup??? "
I really wish that India participated in 1950 World Cup. Its national team would have surely performed very well as its form was very good during that time. Secondly, Brazilian weather is somewhat similar to Indian weather. And if India could cause any upset then Indian Football would have a different history now. Football had become a much bigger business than cricket in India now. Well, the past cannot be changed no matter how much you lament. I just wish that organizers related with football try to be serious and take advantage of the popularity of this world cup.
"It may be recalled in 1950 the Indian football team qualified for the world cup in Brazil. But the country did not have enough foreign exchange to send the team there. And thereafter India never qualified again. In the Olympic of 1952 our barefoot team bravely fought and carved out a place on international level. In the Melbourne Olympic of 1956 the Indian team with boots finished fourth. In those days India used to be one of the Asian super powers in football."
Then India clinched the second position in Asian Cup 1964. According to Mr. Mishra, India did not participate in 1950 World Cup Football (held in Brazil) because of monetary problem. On the other hand, according to BBC, " India pulled out because Fifa would not let them play in bare feet." Thus, you can see that opinions are divided about India's not taking part in World Cup 1950.
But india won naharu cup this year.I hope India will bea great team in feuture.
Posted by: NARAYAN TARAFDER | November 27, 2007 3:25 AM | Permalink to Comment