Tales of valour and unheralded prowess speak to the heart of Indian hockey. Atif Idris, a scion with a distinguished lineage, is a story worth recounting and remembering.
His father, Idris Ahmed, played alongside the luminary Dhyan Chand and the indomitable K D Singh Babu – names that resonate with the very soul of hockey’s rich history. Furthermore, Atif is the maternal uncle of Danish Mujtaba, a modern-day talent twice adorned with medals from the Asian and Commonwealth Games. Atif Idris, a name that once promised to adorn the annals of Indian hockey with unmatched brilliance, now stands as a poignant reminder of “what could have been.”
In a lengthy conversation with TSC’s Ravi Mandapaka, Atif Idris remembered his father.
Atif Idris: He was no mere player but a stalwart who graced the field in an era many consider the zenith of Indian hockey. To have shared the turf with legends such as Dhyan Chand and K D Singh Babu is an honour few could boast.” Though fate did not smile upon his endeavours to don the Indian jersey at the 1952 Olympics, Idris Ahmed’s passion for the game never waned. Atif Idris says his tale, not one of laurels but of perseverance, became the tapestry upon which my dreams were woven. “If thou choosest the path of hockey,” he would oft remind me, “I shall not hinder thee, but neither shall I pave thy way.” Thus, with a heart stirred by the weight of his words and his unfulfilled legacy, I sought my fortune at the Sports Hostel in 1981.
In the halcyon days of his youth, Atif Idris displayed a flair and finesse that captivated all who beheld him. His stickwork, reminiscent of his father’s artistry, was poetry in motion and a symphony of skill and talent. Atif spent his childhood amidst the bustling streets of Allahabad and was defined by a singular yearning—to stand tall amongst the ranks of Indian Airlines. This mighty institution had stirred his imagination.
Atif’s first big moment as a hockey player came during the year of “Seoul Olympics.” For Atif Idris, the 1988 Nehru Cup was not just a tournament; it was the culmination of a lifelong dream.
Reflecting on the experience, he recalls, “It was a moment etched in my heart, not just because we won, but because we defied the odds and fate itself.” Having been sidelined due to an ankle injury, Atif was entirely out of gear with his kit packed away and resigned to miss the final. However, fate had different plans. The unyielding persistence of Inam-Ur-Rehman, then adviser of the Airlines team, and Zafar Iqbal, the coach, pushed him back into the fray. “They insisted I play,” Atif says, “and I was even forced to take an injection just to be able to stand on the field.”
Against all odds, Atif stepped back onto the field in the final against RCF Kapurthala, captained by Pargat Singh. With a stunning display of skill and determination, the Airlines team triumphed with a 5-1 victory. “That match,” he says, “was the best of my career, always etched in my memory.”
The victory secured the title and catapulted Atif into the limelight, earning him a Junior Asia Cup team spot. “That performance,” he reflects, “was pivotal in my journey to representing India.” Four years later, in the 1992 Nehru Cup, history repeated itself. Atif again delivered an outstanding performance and helped his team claim the title by beating BSF Jallandhar in the final. “It was total hockey at its finest,” he says, his passion for the sport still palpable after all these years.
Yet, the corridors of power that should have lauded his talent became the labyrinthine paths that ensnared his dreams. The sport’s domestic structure, mired in its anachronisms, did little to nurture the prodigy within him. The system, rife with its follies, rendered unto him opportunities missed and potential unfulfilled, and the whispers of political machinations and the caprices of fate conspired to thwart his ascendancy to the national team. Despite immense talent, Atif’s journey was to follow a path different from the gilded path of his forebears.
Atif Idris recalls playing in the qualifiers from 1989 to 1995 with a bittersweet pride. “I was called upon consistently for the qualifiers and played in every one of them,” he reflects. “But when the final selection for the tournaments came, I was purposely dropped, making way for others.”
A match against Pakistan during the qualifiers still burns brightly in his memory. “Mukesh Kumar and I completely dismantled the Pakistani side, which had the great Shahbaz Ahmed, ‘The Maradona of Hockey’ in their ranks. We reduced them to nothing,” Idris recounts. He vividly remembers Hasan Sardar, one of Pakistan’s finest, running to the Indian coach and asking, “Where did you get that inside-left and inside-right from?’ At the time, Idris played on the left as a forward while Mukesh commanded the right.
How could one not be inspired by their artistry upon the field, their deftness of foot, their mastery over the stick, as though it were an extension of their very selves? Yet, time is a fickle mistress, and the game of hockey has not been immune to her whims. Where once the game was a measured dance steeped in traditional formations and the slow-burning grace of strategy, today’s incarnation is a whirlwind of speed and ferocity. The rolling substitutes are a marvel of modernity and have changed the very face of play and added a new dimension to the game, recalled this humble man.
Atif Idris recalled with a sense of wonder still fresh despite the passing of years, his first foray into the world beyond our shores – In India’s national colors. He said, “It was in Berlin where I had the great honor of representing my country. ‘Twas there, amidst the cheers and jeers of foreign tongues, that I felt the weight of the Indian colours upon my shoulders. At that moment, I was not merely playing a game—I was the embodiment of all those who had come before me, whose sacrifices had paved the way for my small triumphs.”
As to the future of Indian hockey, the man from Allahabad believed that Indian Hockey has found itself at the cusp of greatness. He further narrated, “The bronze medal at the recent Olympics hath set us upon a path that can only lead to greater glories. The groundwork had been laid, and the puzzle pieces now fit together as they should. I am hopeful that India will claim the coveted gold and that the dream will be fulfilled. Yet, let us not forget those who came before, who toiled in the shadows of lesser recognition, for their deeds, though unsung by the masses, are no less heroic.”
Undoubtedly, the Indian hockey fraternity gets emotional during conversations over India’s untouchable past in India’s national game. Atif Idris spoke about responsibility and the importance of carrying this legacy to future generations.
In the autumn of my career, I find myself not without a sense of responsibility to the younger generation. The game hath bestowed upon me so much—a wealth of experience, joy, and sorrow. Now, it is my turn to pass the torch, to share what little wisdom I have gleaned from the years spent in the crucible of competition. My heart beats with a sincere wish that those who follow in our footsteps will continue to uplift the grand tradition of Indian hockey and that they shall do so with the same reverence and love for the game that my father, my comrades, and I have held dear.
Long story short, Atif Idris’s journey in Indian hockey is defined not just by the matches won or lost but by the complex winding path that led him here—a story steeped in both triumph and heartbreak. His career reflects the systemic maladies that once plagued Indian hockey, where merit often took a backseat to influence.
A son shouldering the weight of his father’s legacy, Atif remains part of an unfulfilled dream—victories that never fully blossomed into the accolades they deserved. Yet, amidst this litany of disappointments, there remains a deep reservoir of resilience and grit within Atif. Though not adorned with the laurels of international acclaim, his life is rich with the love of the game and the respect of those who witnessed his prowess.
1988, Indira Gandhi Gold Cup in Lucknow, India
Auckland 1991 – 1991 Olympic Qualifiers, Auckland, New Zealand
Olympic qualifiers 1991 – 1991 Olympic Qualifiers, Auckland, New Zealand
