India national football team at the Olympics

[4] Beginning with the 1992 Summer Olympics, the rules were changed so that only under-23 national teams are allowed to compete in the Games.

[5][6] Coach Balaidas Chatterjee had prepared the team which successfully defeated Department Store XI 15–0 on 13 July, and the Metropolitan Police F.C.

[10] However, during trials in India, the players wore boots as the pitch was wet due to heavy rain.

[11] 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,[12] most players opted to play without shoes and instead wore bandages to protect their feet.

[7][13] 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.

[9][12] Just before half-time, Swedish referee Gunnar Dahlner awarded India a penalty kick; Sailen Manna missed it as the ball flew over the crossbar.

In the second half 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.

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.

The Indian footballers' bravery and brilliance in bare feet at the 1948 Olympics earned them the admiration of Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II.

[21] Four years later, at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, India attained its best outing at the Games as they reached the semi-finals of the tournament.

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.

A mistake by Indian defender Muhammad Salaam led to an own goal at the 78th minute ensuring Yugoslavia's victory in the match.

[26] With four goals Neville D'Souza became joint top scorer in that edition of the Games with Todor Veselinović of Yugoslavia and Dimitar Stoyanov of Bulgaria.

[27] At 1960 Olympics in Rome, India was placed in a group with strong sides from Hungary, France and Peru.

[43][44] India has played eight football matches at the Olympic Games, and managed one win, one draw, and lost in six of them.