View source for India national football team at the Olympics

{{good article}}
{{short description|History of India men's national football team at the Olympics.}}
[[File:Talimeren Ao and Gabriel Robert.jpg|thumb|160px|right|alt=India against France, football at 1948 Olympics|Indian captain [[Talimeren Ao]] (right) and French captain [[Gaby Robert]] (left) shaking hands before Swedish referee Gunnar Dahlner prior to the commencement of India's first Olympic match on 31 July 1948 against France.]]
[[Association football|Football]] was first introduced as an [[Olympic sports]] at the [[Summer Olympic Games]] held in France in [[Football at the 1900 Summer Olympics|1900]]. It was played by only three club teams from three nations as an exhibition sport and played again at the [[Football at the 1904 Summer Olympics|1904 Games]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Elbech |first1=Søren |last2=Stokkermans |first2=Karel |title=Games of the II. Olympiad-football tournament |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1900f.html |access-date=15 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115204636/http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1900f.html |archive-date=15 November 2019 |website=[[RSSSF]] |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Elbech |first1=Søren |last2=Stokkermans |first2=Karel |title=Games of the III. Olympiad-football tournament |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1904f.html |access-date=15 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115204822/http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1904f.html |archive-date=15 November 2019 |website=[[RSSSF]] |url-status=live}}</ref> National sides played for the first time at the [[Football at the 1908 Summer Olympics|1908 Summer Olympics]]. India did not send a football side to the Olympics until the [[Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948 Games]]; it participated in the next three  Games.<ref name="Fifa facts">{{cite web |title=FIFA Facts |url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mencompoly/51/98/60/ip-208_01e_oly_men.pdf |publisher=FIFA |access-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924175855/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mencompoly/51/98/60/ip-208_01e_oly_men.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> An [[India national football team|Indian]] team last participated in the [[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960 Games]]. India's best appearance was at the [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Summer Olympics]] where its team reached the semi-finals.<ref name="Babu Narayan interview">{{cite web |author= Ayush Srivastava|title=India's Olympic Heroes: Babu Narayan takes us through his 1956 and 1960 experience |url=https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2012/07/25/3263069/indias-olympic-heroes-babu-narayan-takes-us-through-his-1956-and- |website=www.goal.com |access-date=10 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110133638/https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2012/07/25/3263069/indias-olympic-heroes-babu-narayan-takes-us-through-his-1956-and- |archive-date=2019-01-10 |url-status=live}}</ref> Beginning with the [[Football at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Summer Olympics]], the rules were changed so that only under-23 national teams are allowed to compete in the Games. [[India national under-23 football team|India's U-23 national team]] has yet to qualify for the Olympic football competition.

== History ==
=== 1948 Olympics: first participation ===
==== Warm-up ====
[[File:1948 indian team practising at Richmond park.jpg|180px|thumb|right|alt=Barefooted Indian footballers, 1948 Olympics|As dry weather, Indians were practising barefooted at Richmond park, London]]
In 1948, [[London]] hosted the [[Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948 Summer Olympic Games]]. The Indian football team made its first Olympic appearance in a match against [[France national football team|France]]. This was the first match played by a team from the newly independent India.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sen|first=Ranojoy|title=London, 1948: India's first Olympics as an independent nation |date=20 July 2012 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/ronojay-sens-blog/london-1948-india-s-first-olympics-as-an-independent-nation/ |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=22 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208112948/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/ronojay-sens-blog/london-1948-india-s-first-olympics-as-an-independent-nation/ |archive-date=8 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Indian football history |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-history |publisher=Sportskeeda |access-date=22 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122094538/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-history |archive-date=22 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Coach [[Balaidas Chatterjee]] had prepared the team which successfully defeated Department Store XI 15–0 on 13 July, and the [[Metropolitan Police F.C.]] 3–1 on 16 July. The team then went on to defeat the [[Pinner F.C.]] by 9–1 on 24 July, [[Hayes F.C.]] by 4–1 on 26 July, and Alexandra Park FC by 8–2 on 28 July.<ref name="the hindu archive 1948 olympics">{{cite news |last1=Dutta|first1=Anindya|title=When India almost beat France at football |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/when-india-almost-beat-france-at-football-olympics-1948-world-cup-1950-first-indian-football-team-why-india-does-not-qualify-for-world-cup/article24573413.ece |website=sportstar.thehindu.com |publisher=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=16 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918034403/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/when-india-almost-beat-france-at-football-olympics-1948-world-cup-1950-first-indian-football-team-why-india-does-not-qualify-for-world-cup/article24573413.ece |archive-date=18 September 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ind europe tour 1948">{{cite web |last1=Morrison |first1=Neil |title=Indian Olympic team tour of Europe 1948 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/indiaoly-eurotour48.html |access-date=19 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310015200/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/indiaoly-eurotour48.html |archive-date=10 March 2019 |website=[[RSSSF]] |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="detail 1948 europe tour by India">{{cite web |last1=Daniel |first1=Chris Punnukattu |title=India's 1948 Europe tour & the first international match |url=https://blog.cpdfootball.de/2013/03/23/exclusive-indias-1948-europe-tour-the-first-international-match/ |website=blog.cpdfootball.de |access-date=18 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928044121/http://blog.cpdfootball.de/2013/03/23/exclusive-indias-1948-europe-tour-the-first-international-match/ |archive-date=28 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Most of the Indian players were not accustomed to wearing boots and some having dislike of being shod.<ref>{{cite news |title=Six Mysore players in Olympic contingent |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19480508&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=27 June 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=8 May 1948}}</ref> However, during trials in India, the players wore boots as the pitch was wet due to heavy rain.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mysore players among scorers in the soccer trial |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19480507&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=27 June 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=7 May 1948}}</ref> Thus during the Games, the Indian team decided to wear shoes if the conditions were wet and if they had to play on soft grounds. As conditions were dry,<ref name="europe tour 1948"/> most players opted to play without shoes and instead wore bandages to protect their feet. Of the eleven players who took the field against France eight players were barefooted, three wore boots.<ref name="the hindu archive 1948 olympics"/><ref name="IE1">{{cite news |title=France beats India at the Olympic soccer |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19480801&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=27 June 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=31 July 1948}}</ref>

==== The match ====
[[File:India vs france 31st july 1948 team arriving.jpg|200px|thumb|left|alt=Members of India national team at the 1948 Olympics|[[Talimeren Ao]] on the left, leading the Indian team to Cricklefield Stadium to play against France.]]
On 31 July 1948, the first eleven men in independent India's footballing history walked to the middle of Cricklefield Stadium in front of 17,000 spectators wearing   thick socks cut off at the ankles and bare feet strapped up to protect them and to provide grip. [[Taj Mohammed (footballer)|Taj Mohammed]], [[K. P. Dhanraj]], [[Thenmadom Varghese]] wore boots. For the first 29 minutes neither team dominated proceedings, then in the 30th minute [[René Courbin]] gave France a 1–0 lead.<ref name="detail 1948 europe tour by India"/><ref name="europe tour 1948">{{cite web |author= Rajan Thambehalli |title=Almost famous – The journey of the first Indian international football team at the 1948 Olympics |date=9 July 2015 |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/almost-famous-first-indian-international-football-team-1948-olympics |publisher=Sportskeeda |access-date=16 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928113443/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/almost-famous-first-indian-international-football-team-1948-olympics |archive-date=28 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Just before half-time, Swedish referee [[:fr:Gunnar Dahlner|Gunnar Dahlner]] awarded India a [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty kick]]; [[Sailen Manna]] missed it as the ball flew over the crossbar. In the second half [[Ahmed Khan (footballer)|Ahmed Khan]] created an opening, he combined with substitute [[Balasundra Vajravelu]], beat the French defense, and passed the ball to [[Sarangapani Raman]] who scored the equaliser in the 70th minute. His name was recorded as independent India's first international goal scorer. Ten minutes after Raman's equaliser, India had a chance to take the lead through another penalty. This time Mahabir Prasad's shot at the goal was saved by the French goalkeeper [[Guy Rouxel]]. With one minute to go before the final whistle [[René Persillon]] scored to give France a 2–1 victory and a place in the quarterfinals.<ref name="the hindu archive 1948 olympics"/><ref name="detail 1948 europe tour by India"/><ref name="europe tour 1948"/>

==== Media and appreciation ====
[[File:India national team at Olympics 1948.jpg|220px|thumb|right|alt=India national football team photo session before 1948 Olympics match against France. |Indian team at [[Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948 Olympics]], [[Talimeren Ao]] at the centre of first row, goalscorer [[Sarangapani Raman]] next to Ao and coach [[Balaidas Chatterjee]] to the extreme right.]]
The Indian team was acknowledged and appreciated by the crowd for their good sportsmanship. "The French had been given a run for their money – and that, too, by the barefooted Indians!", the British media reported.<ref>{{cite news |title=Story of a legend – Dr. T. Ao the first Naga Olympian and football genius |url=https://www.thenagarepublic.com/features/story-legend-dr-t-ao-first-naga-olympian-football-genius/ |access-date=17 February 2020 |work=The Naga Republic |date=27 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217182218/https://www.thenagarepublic.com/features/story-legend-dr-t-ao-first-naga-olympian-football-genius/|archive-date=17 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Pierre">{{cite journal |last1=Kapadia |first1=Novy |title=Triumphs and Disasters: The Story of Indian Football, 1889-2000 |journal=Soccer and Society |date=14 September 2010 |volume=2, 2001 |issue=2 |page=23,24 |url=http://pierretristam.com/pdfs/wc10.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813081005/http://pierretristam.com/pdfs/wc10.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 August 2012 |access-date=17 February 2020}}</ref> At a press conference, shortly after the match, the Indians were asked why they played barefooted. The Indian captain [[Talimeren Ao]] said, "Well, you see, we play football in India, whereas you play BOOTBALL!". This was applauded by the British and the next day Ao's comment was in the headlines of London's newspapers.<ref name="Pierre"/><ref name="http://morungexpress.com">{{cite news|url=http://morungexpress.com/brief-life-sketch-dr-t-ao-first-naga-olympian/|title=Brief life sketch of Dr T Ao, the First Naga Olympian|publisher=[[The Morung Express]]|date=27 January 2018|access-date=15 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819083036/http://morungexpress.com/brief-life-sketch-dr-t-ao-first-naga-olympian/|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

While the 1–2 loss to France and first round elimination was a huge disappointment to the team and the public alike, the quality of football the team displayed had captivated one and all. The Indian footballers' bravery and brilliance in bare feet at the 1948 Olympics earned them the admiration of [[Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon|Princess Margaret]], the younger sister of Queen [[Elizabeth II]].<ref name="1948 fifa India story">{{cite web |title=fifa 1948 India olympic story |url=https://www.fifa.com/live-scores/news/y=2012/m=9/news=indian-football-unique-tale-1692684.html |publisher=[[FIFA]] |access-date=28 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928082949/https://www.fifa.com/live-scores/news/y=2012/m=9/news=indian-football-unique-tale-1692684.html |archive-date=28 September 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Saint of Indian football, Manna da">{{cite news |title=Sailen Manna |date=17 March 2012 |url=https://www.economist.com/obituary/2012/03/17/sailen-manna |publisher=[[The Economist]] |access-date=30 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930233614/https://www.economist.com/obituary/2012/03/17/sailen-manna |archive-date=30 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Sailen Manna's interview and history">{{cite news |last1=Amitabh |first1=Sharma |title=India's greatest footballer Sailen Manna |date=15 April 2006|url=https://www.sportstarlive.com/tss2915/stories/20060415012103900.htm |website=sportstarlive.com |publisher=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=30 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115205748/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/magazine/indias-greatest-footballer/article29646644.ece |archive-date=15 November 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> King [[George VI]] invited the team to [[Buckingham Palace]] and there, as the story goes, he lifted up [[Sailen Manna]]'s trouser leg, telling him it was just to check if he really had legs of steel as it appeared from the strength of his shots.<ref name="europe tour 1948"/><ref name="Saint of Indian football, Manna da"/> Encouraged by the accolades and the positive reception to India's football, the [[All India Football Federation]] (AIFF) decided to extend the tour with some friendlies across Europe over the next several weeks that enhanced the team's reputation at the time.<ref name="the hindu archive 1948 olympics"/><ref name="Ind europe tour 1948"/><ref name="detail 1948 europe tour by India"/>

=== 1952, 1956, and 1960 Olympics ===
In [[Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics|1952]], under [[Sailen Manna]]'s leadership at [[Helsinki]], India would again lose in the first round, this time 10–1 to Yugoslavia.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chaudhuri |first1=Arunava |title=The Indian senior team at 1952 Helsinki Olympics |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1952olympics.html |website=indianfootball.de |access-date=17 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203000534/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1952olympics.html |archive-date=3 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Yugloslavian [[Branko Zebec]] scored four of the ten goals for his side; the lone goal for the Indian side was scored by [[Ahmed Khan (footballer)|Ahmed Khan]] in the 89th minute as the final goal of the match.<ref name="Ind vs Yug 1952">{{cite web |title=Olympic football tournament Helsinki 1952 |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/helsinki1952/matches/round=197060/match=32371/index.html |publisher=[[FIFA]] |access-date=10 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512193032/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/helsinki1952/matches/round%3D197060/match%3D32371/index.html |archive-date=12 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:India national football team at1956 Olympics.png|160px|thumb|left|alt=India national team playing against Australia at Olympic Park stadium, Melbourne in 1956 Olympics|Indian team at a tussle against Bulgaria at the [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Olympics]].]]
Four years later, at the [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Olympics]] in [[Melbourne]], India attained its best outing at the Games as they reached the semi-finals of the tournament. The team was led by [[Samar Banerjee]] and India's most successful coach [[Syed Abdul Rahim]],<ref name="1956 AUS VS IND">{{cite web |title=Match report Australia vs India, 1956 Olympics |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/melbourne1956/matches/round=197070/match=32404/index.html |publisher=[[FIFA]] |access-date=10 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715235643/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/melbourne1956/matches/round=197070/match=32404/index.html |archive-date=15 July 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Chaudhuri |first1=Arunava |title=The senior Indian team at the 1956 Olympics |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1956olympics.html |website=indianfootball.de |access-date=18 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216145155/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1956olympics.html |archive-date=16 February 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> who coached the team at both the 1952 and 1960 Olympics. India reached the first round without playing a scheduled preliminary match. The team received a [[walkover]] because [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]] did not play.<ref name="Babu Narayan interview"/> The team beat hosts [[Australia national football team|Australia]] 4–2 and reached the semi-finals becoming the first Asian team to do so in Olympic history. At the match against Australia [[Neville D'Souza]] scored a hat trick.<ref name="1956 AUS VS IND"/><ref name="1960 story">{{cite web |last1=Roy |first1=Gautam |title=60 years ago today, India's Melbourne magic created history |date=1 December 2016|url=https://www.espn.in/football/story/_/id/18177743/60-years-ago-today-india-melbourne-magic-created-history |publisher=[[ESPN]] |access-date=19 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115205259/https://www.espn.in/football/story/_/id/18177743/60-years-ago-today-india-melbourne-magic-created-history |archive-date=15 November 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> He scored two goals in the first half at the ninth and 33rd minutes. The first was a nod to the rebound from captain Samar Banerjee's shot to the opponent's post. Then in the 33rd minute D'Souza converted a cross from [[P. K. Banerjee]] who sent the ball into the net from the right flank. A third goal was scored in the second half at the 50th minute when Banerjee converted a free ball received from a melee between Indian striker [[Muhammad Kannayan]] and Australian goalkeeper [[Ron Lord]]. The fourth Indian goal was scored by [[J. Krishnaswamy]] at the 80th minute. [[Bruce Morrow (footballer)|Bruce Morrow]] scored two goals for the hosts.<ref name="1956 AUS VS IND"/><ref name="1960 story"/>

However, India failed to reach the final losing to [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] by 4–1 in the semi-finals. There were no goals scored in the first half. D'Souza scored the opening goal in the match for India at the 52nd minute, but in the next 15 minutes Yugoslavia scored three goals at the 54th, 57th and 65th minutes. A mistake by Indian defender [[Muhammad Salaam]] led to an own goal at the 78th minute ensuring Yugoslavia's victory in the match.<ref name="yug v ind 1956">{{cite web |title=Match report India vs Yugoslavia |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/melbourne1956/matches/round=197072/match=32405/index.html |publisher=[[FIFA]] |access-date=10 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928044326/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/melbourne1956/matches/round=197072/match=32405/index.html |archive-date=28 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> After the loss, India faced [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] in the [[Third place playoff|bronze medal match]] where they were again defeated by a score of 3–0.<ref name="1956 ind vs bul match">{{cite web |title=Match report Bulgaria vs India 1956 |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/melbourne1956/matches/round=197073/match=32407/index.html |publisher=FIFA |access-date=10 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122171933/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/melbourne1956/matches/round=197073/match=32407/index.html |archive-date=22 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> With four goals Neville D'Souza became joint top scorer in that edition of the Games with [[Todor Veselinović]] of Yugoslavia and [[Dimitar Milanov|Dimitar Stoyanov]] of Bulgaria.<ref name="1956 olmpic match">{{cite web |title=Player-top goalscorer 1956 Olympics |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/melbourne1956/statistics/players/topgoals.html |publisher=FIFA |access-date=28 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724002255/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/melbourne1956/statistics/players/topgoals.html |archive-date=24 July 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 
[[File:1960 Olympics India football team.jpg|200px|thumb|right|alt=India national football team photo session before 1960 Olympics|Indian team at the [[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960 Olympics]], Coach Syed Abdul Rahim at the front row centre and captain P. K. Banerjee on his right side.]] 
At [[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960 Olympics]] in [[Rome]], India was placed in a group with strong sides from Hungary, France and [[Peru national football team|Peru]].<ref name="Babu Narayan interview"/> The team was led by [[P. K. Banerjee]] under the coaching of Syed Abdul Rahim.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chaudhuri |first1=Arunava |title=The Indian senior national team at the 1960 Rome Olympics |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1960olympics.html |website=indianfootball.de |access-date=10 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112062814/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1960olympics.html |archive-date=12 January 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Tulsidas Balaram]] scored two goals, one each in the matches against Hungary and Peru, both of which India lost.<ref name="ind hun 1960">{{cite web |title=Matches 1960 Hungary |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/rome1960/matches/round=197076/match=32043/index.html |publisher=[[FIFA]] |access-date=28 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705180226/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/rome1960/matches/round=197076/match=32043/index.html |archive-date=5 July 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ind v peru 1960">{{cite web |title=Match report Peru vs India, 1960 Rome |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/rome1960/matches/round=197076/match=32052/index.html |publisher=[[FIFA]] |access-date=28 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705180224/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/rome1960/matches/round=197076/match=32052/index.html |archive-date=5 July 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the second match  Banerjee's goal in the 71st minute would help India hold France to a draw.<ref name="indVfra oly1960">{{cite web|title=Match 1960 France vs India|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/rome1960/matches/round=197076/match=32050/index.html|publisher=[[FIFA]]|access-date=28 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928044104/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/rome1960/matches/round=197076/match=32050/index.html|archive-date=28 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> With two losses and a draw, India placed at the bottom of the group and failed to move to the next round.<ref>{{cite web |title=Olympic Football tournament 1960, Rome |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/rome1960/match-center |publisher=FIFA |access-date=10 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110183421/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/rome1960/matches/index.html |archive-date=10 January 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> This was the last time India qualified for the Olympics in football.<ref name="indianfootball olympics data"/>

=== 1964–present ===
From [[Football at the 1908 Summer Olympics|1908]] to [[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988]], football at the Olympics was played by senior national teams. Between these years the [[India national football team]] competed at Games from 1948 to 1960. From [[Football at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992]], FIFA allowed only U-23 national teams to play in the tournament at the Olympics.<ref name="Fifa facts"/> India withdrew from qualifying competition in the [[Football at the 1968 Summer Olympics|1968]], [[Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1976]] and 1988 Olympics.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miron |first1=Goihman |title=Games of the XIX. Olympiad- football qualifying tournament |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1968q.html |access-date=9 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104061854/http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1968q.html#Asia |archive-date=4 January 2016 |website=[[RSSSF]] |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Elbech|first1=Soren|title=Games of the XXI. Olympiad football qualifying tournament|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1976q.html|access-date=9 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304074629/http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1976q.html#Asia|archive-date=4 March 2016|website=[[RSSSF]]|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Aarhus |first1=Lars |title=Games of the XXIV. Olympiad- football qualifying tournament |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1988q.html |access-date=9 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174703/http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1988q.html#Asia |archive-date=3 March 2016 |website=[[RSSSF]] |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Chaudhuri|first1=Arunava|title=The India national team at Olympics qualifying|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/data/olympicsq.html|website=indianfootball.de|access-date=10 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903095233/http://www.indianfootball.de/data/olympicsq.html|archive-date=3 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> For the [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics|1964]], [[Football at the 1972 Summer Olympics|1972]], [[Football at the 1980 Summer Olympics|1980]] and [[Football at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984]] Olympics India failed to qualify.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jonsson|first1=Mikael|title=Games of the XVIII. Olympiad football qualifying tournament|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1964q.html|access-date=9 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205402/http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1964q.html#Asia|archive-date=3 March 2016|website=[[RSSSF]]|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Morrison|first1=Neil|title=Games of the XX. Olympiad- football qualifying tournament|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1972q.html|access-date=9 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171208/http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1972q.html#Asia|archive-date=3 March 2016|website=[[RSSSF]]|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Elbech|first1=Soren|title=Games of the XXII. Olympiad- football qualifying tournament|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1980q.html|access-date=9 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315030624/http://rsssf.com/tableso/ol1980q.html#Asia|archive-date=15 March 2013|website=[[RSSSF]]|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Morrisson|first1=Neil|title=Games of the XXIII. Olympiad football qualifying tournament|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1984q.html|access-date=9 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120147/http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1984q.html#Asia|archive-date=4 March 2016|website=[[RSSSF]]|url-status=live}}</ref>

Though U-23 players were allowed, every qualifying matches from 1992 Olympics to the [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Olympics]] were played by India's senior national team. It failed to qualify for the Olympic finals from 1992 to 2012. The [[Asian Football Confederation]] (AFC) started the [[AFC U-23 Championship]] in 2013 which now acts as the qualifying tournament for the Olympics for Asian countries. The top three teams are allowed entry to the Olympic finals.<ref name="Rio2016">{{cite web|title=Qualification system-Games of the XXXI Olympiad-Rio 2016-Football |url=http://www.rio2016.com/sites/default/files/users/rio2016_files/fifa-football-en_0.pdf |website=rio2016.com|publisher=[[FIFA]] |access-date=10 January 2019 |date=23 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906102243/http://www.rio2016.com/sites/default/files/users/rio2016_files/fifa-football-en_0.pdf |archive-date= 6 September 2015 }}</ref> India has yet to qualify for the AFC U-23 Championship and thus for the [[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympics]] since then.<ref>{{cite news |title=India to start preparations for U-23 AFC championship |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/india-to-start-preparations-for-u23-afc-championship/1484451 |access-date=17 February 2020 |work=[[Indo-Asian News Service|IANS]] |publisher=The Outlook India |date=23 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502194023/https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/india-to-start-preparations-for-u23-afc-championship/1484451|archive-date=2 May 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=India U-23 lose to Tajikistan, fail to qualify for AFC U-23 Championship 2020 |url=https://khelnow.com/football/afc-u-23-championship-qualifiers-india-tajikistan-match-report |access-date=17 February 2020 |work=AIFF |publisher=Khel Now |date=24 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502195520/https://khelnow.com/football/afc-u-23-championship-qualifiers-india-tajikistan-match-report|archive-date=2 May 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Record ==
India has played eight football matches at the [[Olympic Games]], and managed one win, one draw, and lost in six of them.<ref name="indVfra oly1960"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Mitra|first1=Atanu|url=https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2696/indian-national-team/2016/12/01/30043132/1956-olympics-football-report-australia-2-4-india-neville|title=1956 Olympics football Report: Australia 2–4 India: Neville D'Souza's hat-trick takes Rahim's team to the semi-finals|website=www.goal.com|access-date=19 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805135004/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2696/indian-national-team/2016/12/01/30043132/1956-olympics-football-report-australia-2-4-india-neville|archive-date=5 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="indianfootball olympics data">{{cite web |last1=Chaudhuri |first1=Arunava |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/data/olympics.html |website=indianfootball.de |title=The India National team at the Olympics |access-date=19 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225014553/http://www.indianfootball.de/data/olympics.html |archive-date=25 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> India scored ten goals in seven matches against five different teams and conceded twenty-seven goals in eight matches against six different teams.<ref name="goals scored and conceded">{{cite web |title=India at Olympics: 4 Olympics, Best Position 4th & a Hattrick for Football |url=http://newschoupal.com/2016/08/03/india-at-olympics-4-olympics-best-position-4th-a-hattrick-for-football/ |website=newschoupal.com |access-date=19 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911191712/http://newschoupal.com/2016/08/03/india-at-olympics-4-olympics-best-position-4th-a-hattrick-for-football |archive-date=11 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1948 and 1952, India was automatically qualified to play in the final tournament and for the 1956 Olympics, India was scheduled to play against [[Thailand national football team|Thailand]] in the [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification#Asia|qualification round]], but both the teams got a [[Bye (sports)|bye]] as the [[Chinese Taipei national football team|Republic of China]] and the [[Philippines national football team|Philippines]] teams withdrew from the qualification round.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gerrard |first1=Russell |title=Games of the XVI. Olympiad football qualifying tournament (Melbourne, Australia, 1956) |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1956q.html |access-date=19 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111061227/http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1956q.html |archive-date=11 January 2014 |website=[[RSSSF]] |url-status=live }}</ref>

For the 1960 Olympics, India was scheduled to play the first round of the [[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification#Asia|qualification]] against [[Afghanistan national football team|Afghanistan]]. In the [[two-legged tie]] India won the away leg by 2−5 and in the home leg Afghanistan withdrew before the match. Eventually India moved to the second round where they defeated [[Indonesia national football team|Indonesia]] in both legs and qualified for the Olympics.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Morrison |first1=Neil |last2=Gerrard |first2=Russell |title=Games of the XVII. Olympiad football qualifying tournament (Roma, Italy, 1960) |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1960q.html |access-date=19 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213440/http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1960q.html#Asia |archive-date=3 March 2016 |website=[[RSSSF]] |url-status=live }}</ref> 1960 Olympics would be India's last participation till date. From 1964 to 2012 India failed to qualify for the Olympics.<ref name="indianfootball olympics data"/> From 2016 onwards the AFC U-23 Championship was considered to be the qualification tournament for the Asian teams,<ref name="Rio2016"/> which India failed to progress from.<ref>{{cite news |title=India out to break AFC U23 C'ship qualification jinx |date=20 March 2019 |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/india-out-to-break-afc-u23-c-ship-qualification-jinx-119032000608_1.html |publisher=The Business Standard |work=[[Asian News International|ANI]]|access-date=19 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912015348/https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/india-out-to-break-afc-u23-c-ship-qualification-jinx-119032000608_1.html |archive-date=12 September 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=India bow out of AFC U-23 Championships qualifiers after loss to Tajikistan |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/football/story/afc-u23-championships-qualifiers-india-vs-tajikistan-1485534-2019-03-24 |publisher=The India Today|work=[[Press Trust of India|PTI]]|access-date=19 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325111813/https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/football/story/afc-u23-championships-qualifiers-india-vs-tajikistan-1485534-2019-03-24 |archive-date=25 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!colspan=9 |[[Football at the Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]] record
! style="width:1%;" rowspan="14"|
!colspan=6 |[[Football at the Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]] qualification record
|-
! style="width:30px;" scope=col|Host/Year
! style="width:40px;" scope=col|Result
! style="width:50px;" scope=col|Position
! style="width:30px;" scope=col|{{Abbr|Pld|Games played}}
! style="width:30px;" scope=col|{{Abbr|W|Won}}
! style="width:30px;" scope=col|{{Abbr|T|Tied}}
! style="width:30px;" scope=col|{{Abbr|L|Lost}}
! style="width:30px;" scope=col|{{Abbr|GF|Goals for}}
! style="width:30px;" scope=col|{{Abbr|GA|Goals against}}
! style="width:30px;" scope=col|{{Abbr|Pld|Games played}}
! style="width:30px;" scope=col|{{Abbr|W|Won}}
! style="width:30px;" scope=col|{{Abbr|T|Tied}}
! style="width:30px;" scope=col|{{Abbr|L|Lost}}
! style="width:30px;" scope=col|{{Abbr|GF|Goals for}}
! style="width:30px;" scope=col|{{Abbr|GA|Goals against}}
|-
!scope=row|[[Football at the 1908 Summer Olympics|1908]]–[[Football at the 1936 Summer Olympics|1936]]
|colspan=9|''did not enter''
|colspan=6|''did not enter''
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948]]
|Round 1
|11th
|1
|0
|0
|1
|1
|2
|colspan=6|''Qualified automatically''
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics|1952]]
|Preliminaries
|25th
|1
|0
|0
|1
|1
|10
|colspan=6|''Qualified automatically''
|-
|-style="background:#9acdff;"
!scope=row|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956]]
|'''Semi-finals'''
|'''4th'''
|'''3'''
|'''1'''
|'''0'''
|'''2'''
|'''5'''
|'''9'''
|colspan=6|''[[Bye (sports)|Bye]]''
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960]]
|Round 1
|13th
|3
|0
|1
|2
|3
|6
|4
|4
|0
|0
|13
|4
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics|1964]]	
|colspan=9 rowspan=7|''did not qualify''
|4
|2
|0
|2
|13
|9
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Football at the 1968 Summer Olympics|1968]]	
|colspan=6|''Withdrew''
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|FRG}} [[Football at the 1972 Summer Olympics|1972]]	
|3
|0
|0
|3
|5
|9
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1976]]	
|colspan=6|''Withdrew''
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|SUN}} [[Football at the 1980 Summer Olympics|1980]]	
|5
|1
|0
|4
|5
|6
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Football at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984]]	
|8
|3
|1
|4
|11
|14
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988]]	
|colspan=6|''Withdrew''
|-
!colspan="16"|''FIFA allowed under-23 national teams onward ([[India national under-23 football team#Summer Olympics|India national U-23 team]])''{{efn|name=fn1|Till the [[Football at the 1980 Summer Olympics|1980 Games]] amateur players were eligible to play the Olympic football tournaments. Professional footballers were allowed for the first time at the [[Football at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Games]] by the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC), with a condition that they didn't participate in a [[FIFA World Cup]] before. Thus, most of the countries fielded young professional players for the 1984 and the [[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Games]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Olympic Tournament |url=http://www.linguasport.com/futbol/internacional/olimpiadas/olympic.htm |website=linguasport.com |access-date=14 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515061420/http://www.linguasport.com/futbol/internacional/olimpiadas/olympic.htm |archive-date=15 May 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> This led to a new regulation agreed upon by the IOC and the FIFA, that under-23 players would participate from the [[Football at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Games]] onwards.<ref name="Fifa facts"/><ref name="oly1992u23">{{cite book |title=Barcelona 1992: Technical Report, Olympic football tournament |date=8 August 1992|page=7 |publisher=[[FIFA]] |location=Barcelona, Spain |url=http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/technicaldevp/50/04/90/oft_92_tr_part1_161.pdf |access-date=14 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220062542/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/technicaldevp/50/04/90/oft_92_tr_part1_161.pdf |archive-date=20 December 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="oly2020overview">{{cite web |title=Tokyo 2020:Football: About this sport |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/sports/football/ |website=olympics.com |access-date=14 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703153525/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/sports/football/ |archive-date=3 July 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Football at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992]]
|colspan=8 rowspan=6|''did not qualify''
!style="width:1%;" rowspan="6"|
|4
|0
|1
|3
|3
|7
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics|1996]]
|4
|2
|0
|2
|8
|7
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics|2000]]
|2
|0
|1
|1
|0
|2
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics|2004]]
|2
|1
|0
|1
|1
|2
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008]]
|8
|0
|3
|5
|3
|13
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics|2012]]
|4
|1
|2
|1
|5
|6
|-
!colspan="16"|''Since 2016, [[AFC U-23 Championship]] acted as the AFC qualifier (top 3 finishers)'' 
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Football at the 2016 Summer Olympics|2016]]
|colspan=8 rowspan=2|''did not qualify''
!style="width:1%;" rowspan="4"|
|colspan=6|''did not qualify [[2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualification#Group E|2016 AFC U-23]]''
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Football at the 2020 Summer Olympics|2020]]
|colspan=6|''did not qualify [[2020 AFC U-23 Championship qualification#Group F|2020 AFC U-23]]''
|-
!scope=row|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Football at the 2024 Summer Olympics|2024]]
|colspan=8|''to be determined''
|colspan=6|''to be determined''
|-
!'''Total'''!!'''Semi-finals'''!!'''4 / 25'''!!'''8'''!!'''1'''!!'''1'''!!'''6'''!!'''10'''!!'''27''' !! '''48''' !! '''14''' !! '''8''' !! '''26''' !! '''67''' !! '''79'''
|}
{{notelist}}

== Match summary ==
[[File:Indian football team at the 1956 Olympics.jpg|200px|thumb|right|alt=India squad at the 1956 Olympics|Men's Indian football team, [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Olympics]].]]
India has scored the most goals against Australia in a 4–2 victory at the 1956 Olympics, their biggest win in the Olympic history. The most goals the team conceded were in a 1–10 loss against [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] at the [[Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics|1952 Olympics]], their largest defeat to date.<ref name="indianfootball olympics data"/><ref name="goals scored and conceded"/>	
{|class="wikitable collapsible" style="text-align: center;"	
!colspan=5|Summer Olympics History	
|-	
! scope=col|Year	
! scope=col|Round	
! scope=col|Score	
! scope=col|Result
! scope="col" class=unsortable|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}	
|-	
!scope=row|[[Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948]]	
|Round 1||align="left"|{{fb-rt|India}} '''1–2''' {{fb|FRA}}||Loss||<ref name="fifa lon oly 1948 ind v fra"/>	
|-	
!scope=row|[[Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics|1952]]	
|Prelim match||align="left"|{{fb-rt|India}} '''1–10''' {{fb|YUG}}||Loss||<ref name="Ind vs Yug 1952"/>
|-	
!scope=row rowspan=4|[[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956]]	
|Round 1||align="left"|{{fb-rt|India}} '''w/o''' {{fb|HUN}}|| †	||<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gerrard|first1=Russel|title=Games of the XVI. Olympiad football qualifying tournament|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1956q.html|access-date=9 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111061227/http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1956q.html#Asia|archive-date=11 January 2014|website=[[RSSSF]]|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-	
|Quarter-final||align="left"|{{fb-rt|India}} '''4–2''' {{fb|AUS}}||Win||<ref name="Oz football 1956 data">{{cite web |last1=Esamie |first1=Thomas |last2=Stock |first2=Greg |title=Socceroo internationals for 1956 |url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1956A.html |website=ozfootball.net |access-date=22 October 2019}}</ref>
|-	
|Semi-final||align="left"|{{fb-rt|India}} '''1–4''' {{fb|YUG}}||Loss||<ref name="yug v ind 1956"/>	
|-	
|{{brca}} medal match||align="left"|{{fb-rt|India}} '''0–3''' {{fb|BUL}}||Loss||<ref name="1956 ind vs bul match"/>	
|-	
!scope=row rowspan=3|[[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960]]	
|rowspan=3|Group match||align="left"|{{fb-rt|India}} '''1–2''' {{fb|HUN}}||Loss||<ref name="ind hun 1960"/>
|-	
|align="left"|{{fb-rt|India}} '''1–1''' {{fb|FRA}}||Draw||<ref name="indVfra oly1960"/>	
|-	
|align="left"|{{fb-rt|India}} '''1–3''' {{fb|PER}}||Loss||<ref name="ind v peru 1960"/>	
|}		
:† <small>''At 1956 Olympics, India got a walkover as Hungary withdrew from the match due to [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956|Hungarian Revolution]], thus India proceeded to QF without playing any match in the first round''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Overview: 1956 Melbourne Olympics |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/melbourne1956/match-center |publisher=FIFA |access-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711050914/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/melbourne1956/index.html |archive-date=11 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref></small>

== Goalscorers ==
[[File:Neville J D'souza Indian footballer first asian Olympic hat trick scorer.jpg|thumb|130px|right|alt=Former India national team player Neville D'Souza|[[Neville D'Souza]], first ever Indian and Asian hat-trick scorer at the Olympics]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:centre;"
!scope=col data-sort-type="number"|{{abbr|No.|Number of footballers}}
!scope=col| Player
!scope=col| Venue
!scope=col| Opponent
!scope=col| Date
!scope=col| Edition
!scope=col data-sort-type="number"| Goals
!scope="col" class=unsortable| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
!scope=row|1
|{{sort name|Sarangapani|Raman}} || [[Lynn Road|Criclefield Stadium]], [[Ilford, London]] || {{fb|FRA}} || 31 July 1948 || [[Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948]] || 1 ||<ref name="fifa lon oly 1948 ind v fra">{{cite web |title=1948 OLY. tournament Ind vs Fra |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/london1948/matches/round=197052/match=32358/index.html |publisher=FIFA |access-date=10 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610115724/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/london1948/matches/round=197052/match=32358/index.html |archive-date=10 June 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!scope=row|2
|{{sort name|Ahmed|Khan|dab=footballer}} || [[Töölön Pallokenttä]], [[Helsinki]] || {{fb|YUG}} || 15 July 1952 || [[Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics|1952]] || 1 ||<ref name="Ind vs Yug 1952"/>
|-
!scope=row rowspan="2"|3
|rowspan="2"| {{sort name|Neville|D'Souza}} ||rowspan="3"|[[Olympic Park Stadium (Melbourne)|Olympic Park Stadium]], [[Melbourne]] || {{fb|AUS}} || 1 December 1956 ||rowspan="3"|[[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956]] || 3 ||<ref name="Oz football 1956 data"/>
|-
|{{fb|YUG}} || 4 December 1956 || 1 ||<ref name="yug v ind 1956"/>
|-
!scope=row|4
|{{sort name|J.|Krishnaswamy}} || {{fb|AUS}} || 1 December 1956 || 1 ||<ref name="Oz football 1956 data"/>
|-
!scope=row rowspan="2"|5
|rowspan="2"| {{sort name|Tulsidas|Balaram}} || [[Stadio Tommaso Fattori]], [[L'Aquila]] || {{fb|HUN}} || 26 August 1960 ||rowspan="3"| [[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960]] || 1 ||<ref name="ind hun 1960"/>
|-
|[[Stadio Adriatico – Giovanni Cornacchia|Stadio Adriatico]], [[Pescara]] || {{fb|PER}} || 1 September 1960|| 1 ||<ref name="ind v peru 1960"/>
|-
!scope=row|6
|{{sort name|P. K.|Banerjee}} || [[Stadio Olimpico Carlo Zecchini|Stadio Olimpico]], [[Grosseto]] || {{fb|FRA}} || 29 August 1960 || 1 ||<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reyes |first1=Macario |title=XVII. Olympiad Rome 1960 football tournament |website=[[RSSSF]] |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1960f-det.html |access-date=22 October 2019}}</ref>
|-
|}

== Coach, captain, and goalkeeper ==
[[File:Syed Abdul Rahim, India Football Coach.jpg|thumb|130px|right|alt=Former India national team coach Syed Rahim, most successful India coach|[[Syed Abdul Rahim]] coached India in the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Olympics.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
!scope=col| Edition
!scope=col| Coach
!scope=col| Captain
!scope=col| Goalkeeper
!scope=col| Matches played
!scope="col" class=unsortable| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
!scope=row|[[Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948 London Olympics]]
|{{sort name|Balaidas|Chatterjee}}
|{{sort name|Talimeren|Ao}}
|{{sort name|Kenchappa|Varadaraj}}
|1
|<ref name="fifa lon oly 1948 ind v fra"/>
|-
!scope=row|[[Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics|1952 Helsinki Olympics]]
|rowspan="4"|{{sort name|Syed|Abdul Rahim}}
|{{sort name|Sailen|Manna}}
|{{sort name|Berland|Anthony}}
|1
|<ref name="Ind vs Yug 1952"/>
|-
!scope=row rowspan="2"|[[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Melbourne Olympics]]
|rowspan="2"|{{sort name|Samar|Banerjee}}
|{{sort name|Peter|Thangaraj}}
|1
|rowspan="2"|<ref name="1956 AUS VS IND"/><ref name="yug v ind 1956"/><ref name="1956 ind vs bul match"/>
|-
|{{sort name|S. S.|Narayan}}
|2 ‡
|-
!scope=row|[[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960 Rome Olympics]]
|{{sort name|P. K.|Banerjee|Pradip Kumar Banerjee}}
|{{sort name|Peter|Thangaraj}}
|3
|<ref name="ind hun 1960"/><ref name="indVfra oly1960"/><ref name="ind v peru 1960"/>
|}
: ‡ <small>''S. S. Narayan was the goalkeeper for the team against [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] and [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] and Peter Thangaraj kept the net for the quarter-final match against [[Australia national football team|Australia]] at 1956 Olympics.''</small>

== Squads ==
{{India football squad 1948 Summer Olympics}}

{{India football squad 1952 Summer Olympics}}

{{India football squad 1956 Summer Olympics}}

{{India football squad 1960 Summer Olympics}}

== See also ==

* [[History of the India national football team]]
* [[Football at the Summer Olympics]]
* [[India at the FIFA World Cup qualification]]
* [[India at the AFC Asian Cup]]
* [[AFC U-23 Championship]]
* [[India national under-23 football team]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Div col}}
* {{cite web |title=Olympic Football Tournament archive |publisher=FIFA|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/archive/mensolympic/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519014227/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/archive/mensolympic/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 19, 2015}}
* {{cite web |title=Indian football at the Olympics: The complete history|publisher=Olympic Channel|url=https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/stories/features/detail/indian-football-team-national-olympics-history-1948-1952-1956-1960/}}
* {{cite web |title=Football at 1948 Olympics |publisher=FIFA|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/london1948/match-center}}
* {{cite web |title=Football at 1952 Olympics |publisher=FIFA|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/helsinki1952/match-center}}
* {{cite web |title=Football at 1956 Olympics |publisher=FIFA|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/melbourne1956/match-center}}
* {{cite web |title=Football at 1960 Olympics |publisher=FIFA|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/mensolympic/rome1960/match-center}}
* {{cite web |title=India Olympics Qualifiers list |publisher=IndianFootball|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/data/olympicsq.html}}
* {{cite web |title=Football Tournament of the Olympics-Details |website=[[RSSSF]] |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/olympics.html}}
* {{cite web |title=Olympics-Qualifying all time records  |website=[[RSSSF]]  |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/olymp-alltime.html}}
* {{cite web|title=India |publisher=Sports-Reference.com |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/IND |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205950/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/IND/ |archive-date=2016-03-03 }}
{{div col end}}

{{India national football team}}

[[Category:India at the Olympics| ]]
[[Category:History of sport in India]]
[[Category:India national football team]]