As supreme leader

Marang GomkeJaipal Singh Astro Turf: As players from the women's teams of World No.5 Germany and South American hopefuls Chile lined up for the opening match of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers on Saturday, one was not sure how many of them were aware of the significance of hosting the event at the Marang GomkeJaipal Singh Astro Turf Stadium here.

It was not clear how many of the 22 players on the field and their teammates on the bench were familiar with the name of Jaipal Singh Munda after whom the stadium is named.

For those who don't know, Jaipal Singh Munda was the first hockey captain of India who won the first of the country's eight gold medals in the Olympics. Studying in England at that time, Jaipal Singh was named captain of the Indian team for the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam of which hockey wizard Dhyan Chand was an integral part.