Pankaj Gupta

Pankaj Gupta (1899 - March 5, 1971) was one of the earliest Indian sports administrators involved in football, hockey and cricket. However, he gave his life for hockey, as a manager, administrator, and even a referee. Many called him “Mr. Hockey”.

Formative years

He studied Intermediate Arts at Sanskrit College and graduated from Bangabasi College of the University of Calcutta. He made an entry into the administration of the Indian Football Association, as a representative of Sporting Union club. In 1924, he was manager of the IFA team that went on a tour to Java, then part of Dutch East Indies and presently IndonesiaSengupta, Subodh Chandra and Bose, Anjali (editors), 1976/1998, Sansad Bangali Charitabhidhan (Biographical dictionary) Vol I, , p. 279, ISBN 8185626650.

Starting with Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1932, he was manager or coach of the Indian team or contingent to many sports events in Europe and America. He attended the World Football Congress twice as the Indian delegate, was manager of the Indian football team to Russia.

Link with Dhyan Chand

Gupta was the first coach of the legendary Dhyan Chand. The latter's...
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