Hyderabad, Nov. 8 -- At the Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956, the Indian team came fourth in the football championship. It was India's best ever performance and has never been bettered till now. In fact after 1960, India has never even qualified to play at the Olympic Games. But that 1956 team had a bunch of very talented players who rose to the occasion. Eight of the players of that team were from Hyderabad, This correspondent was fortunate to have met two or three of those great players before they passed away.

One was the tenacious and steadfast Noor Mohammed. Remembering the battles in that memorable Olympic tournament, Noor Mohammed had told me many years ago that the Indian team was fired up with a great patriotic passion. The India...