India Field Hockey Club – Winners of Mainland League Cup and OB Allan Cup (1934-1935)
Established in 1932, India Field Hockey Club (IFHC) celebrates over 88 years of quality field hockey today. The founders, Lushman Gill and Sardara Singh, were able to lead the team to victory, capturing three consecutive championships (1934-1937) after only two years in the Vancouver Field Hockey League.
With four championships in the fifties (1950-1954) IFHC became one of the only teams to win four consecutive titles. IFHC has won 18 of the 22 championships that have been awarded from 1980 to 2001, with a record of 16 consecutive championships (1981- 1996) during that time. IFHC has also been able to capture the major North American tournaments such as California Cup, Canadian Club Championships, Montreal Cup, and the Victoria Day Tournament held in Vancouver.
Club member Pundit Rai was the first to make the Canadian National Team in 1963 and become the first Canadian to score an international goal. Since then, many players have followed the path; Parmjit Bahia, Sarbjit Dusangh, Pritpal Kullar, Paul (Bubli) Chohan, Hargurnek (Nick) Sandhu, Hargurpreet (Bill) Sandhu, Harbhajan Rai, Ranjit (Junior) Rai, Minder Gill, Kinder Gill, Bindi Kullar, Ravi Khalon, Ranjeev Deol, Jannu Mahal, Manvir Kingra, Jagdish Gill, Iqwinder Gill, Poonam Sandhu and Priya Randhawa.
Currently India Field Hockey Club has two Men’s National Team members Adam Froese and Keegan Periera, Gavin Bains and Harbir Sidhu (Habu) are currently on Men’s Senior Development Squad. In addition, Amraaz Dhillon and Arman Bagri are members of the Junior Development Squad. Our club has also produced many players for the Canadian Junior National Team and has sent numerous players to represent the BC Provincial Team.
IFHC etches this team effort concept into all of its players, both on and off the pitch. The club’s close connection with the community is seen with their Junior Program. Under the previous leadership of Piara Sumra and Shami Chohan, a Junior Program was devised to develop young players in our community. The response of our community has been overwhelming.
In 2000, IFHC started another chapter in their long history, and added a girls junior program. As a result, Poonam Sandhu became the first South Asian woman to play for Canadian National team in 2009, and has set the stepping stone for other young girls to follow. Priya Randhawa has also represented Canada. Many more girls from IFHC are now representing provincial programs on a regular basis.
In 2008, India Field Hockey Club started a juniors tournament, which in very short time has become the biggest tournament in Canada. Close to 50 to 60 teams from all over north America participate each year in this tournament.
