Indian hockey and dubious firsts

Taking more than a passing interest in Indian hockey unwittingly makes one a statistician of sorts. Especially if the numbers are of the dubious kind.
Take for instance the defeat to South Korea at the London Olympics on Sun-day. The 1-4 verdict meant losing the first four matches in an Olympic tournament.
A first.
Losing four matches at the Games, in itself, is also a first.Actually, it meant three back-to-back firsts at London 2012. After losing the opener to Holland and the next match to New Zealand, it was the first ever time India lost the opening two matches of an Olympic tournament.
Then came the defeat to Germany. Record updated. More misery and record setting - a loss to South Korea to make it four losses in four matches. Another uncomplimentary record tumbles.
In the light of the incessant number of dubious firsts, we've grown tired of being reminded of the positive firsts for the 'national game' starting with India are eight-time Olympic gold medallists. Statisticians would expand that to: The first nation to register a hat-trick of titles (1928-36); the first to win five titles in a row; the first to win a double hat-trick of titles and so on...
But once the dubious first came along - that of losing the Olympic title for the first time ever (to Pakistan 0-1 at
the 1960 Rome Olympic final), they came in thick and fast.
A flashback to India's list of unprecedented disasters since the Rome final:
Mexico City 1968: Losing a pool match for the first time - to New Zealand. Failing to make the final by losing to Australia in the semifinals and thereby failing to finish with even a silver. Winning a first-ever bronze medal by beating (West) Germany was hardly looked upon as a positive.
Montreal 1976: Conceding three goals in a match for the first time ever while losing to Holland 1-3; also losing to a European nation in the Olympics for the first time ever; conceding six goals in a match for the first time ever while losing to Australia 1-6; Failing to make the semifinals for the first time ever (effectively not winning a medal of any colour); losing to (West) Germany in an Olympic match for the first time ever (play off for the 5th-8th position) while finishing 7th; losing four matches in the Olympic tournament for the first time ever -- previous worst being two matches in 1968.
Seoul 1988: Losing the opening match (against the former Soviet Union 0-1) for the first time; losing to Great Britain (who brought the sport to India) for the first time in the Olympics (0-3).
Atlanta 1996: Losing to Argentina for the first time in the Olympics (0-1); Worst finish - 8th place.
Beijing 2008: Failing to qualify for the Olympics for the first time ever since participating for the first time at Amsterdam 1928.
London 2012: As mentioned above, losing the opening four encounters for the first time ever. One pool match remains - vs Belgium and another 'opportunity' to register a first viz, losing the first five matches and thereby losing all matches in the pool. Lurking ominously also is the spectre of losing all matches in an Olympics (including the classification matches) and a last-place finish - not a first for Indian hockey. The team finished last at the 1986 World Cup, in London itself. But let's leave World Cup dubious firsts for another day!