Until September 9, 1960, India had been the undisputed ruler of Pakistan-Hockey-1960-Rome-Olympics, winning the competition for three consecutive decades. Even on that day, their confidence remained unshaken.
On the other side, the Pakistani team was determined that it was now or never. Their mindset was clear: “Do or die.”
As both teams stepped into the Olympic Stadium in Rome, the Pakistani players wore deep green jerseys and shorts, while the Indian players donned light blue kits. The stadium was packed with spectators, eagerly awaiting the clash.
Following tradition, both teams huddled separately, lowered their heads in consultation, and with a unified chant, they spread out on the field. The referee blew the whistle, and the match began between Pakistan-Hockey-1960-Rome-Olympics.
Pakistani captain Abdul Hamid Hamidi took position as center-forward, adopting an aggressive strategy. Ghulam Rasool Chaudhry and Noor Alam provided him with strong support.
In the 13th minute of the first half, the defining moment came. Hamidi passed the ball to Noor Alam, who skillfully advanced and passed it to left-in Nasir Bunda. Positioned inside the D, Nasir Bunda took the ball, faked the Indian goalkeeper to the right, and swiftly sent it to the left, straight into the goal post.
This historic goal opened the doors to a golden era for Pakistan hockey. Despite their best efforts, the Indian players failed to equalize, and with the final whistle, Pakistan secured its first-ever Olympic gold medal in hockey.
During this tournament of Pakistan-Hockey-1960-Rome-Olympics, Pakistan scored 25 goals while conceding only one.
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