<P> On their way to 1948 London Olympics , Chinese team again visited India , where they played Mohammedan fc , East Bengal , Mohun Bagan then finally on 17th July 1948 , a friendly match held at Kolkata , where they were defeated by the Indian national side by 0 - 1 score . The 1948 London Olympics was India 's first major international tournament , where a predominately barefooted Indian team lost 2 -- 1 to France , failing to convert two penalties . The Indian team was greeted and appreciated by the crowd for their sporting manner. `` The French had been given a run for their money -- and that , too , by the barefooted Indians ! '' , the british media expressed ... At a press conference , shortly after , the Indians were asked why they played barefooted . The ever witty then Indian captain Talimeren Ao said , `` Well , you see , we play football in India , whereas you play BOOTBALL ! '' which was applauded by the British . The next day , that comment was splashed in the newspapers of London . Sarangapani Raman scored the only goal for India in that match and thus the first Indian international goal ever in the Olympics . </P>
<P> On their way to 1948 London Olympics , Chinese team again visited India , where they played Mohammedan fc , East Bengal , Mohun Bagan then finally on 17th July 1948 , a friendly match held at Kolkata , where they were defeated by the Indian national side by 0 - 1 score . The 1948 London Olympics was India 's first major international tournament , where a predominately barefooted Indian team lost 2 -- 1 to France , failing to convert two penalties . The Indian team was greeted and appreciated by the crowd for their sporting manner. `` The French had been given a run for their money -- and that , too , by the barefooted Indians ! '' , the british media expressed ... At a press conference , shortly after , the Indians were asked why they played barefooted . The ever witty then Indian captain Talimeren Ao said , `` Well , you see , we play football in India , whereas you play BOOTBALL ! '' which was applauded by the British . The next day , that comment was splashed in the newspapers of London . Sarangapani Raman scored the only goal for India in that match and thus the first Indian international goal ever in the Olympics . </P>
when did india first participated in olympics football
when did india first participated in olympics football
1948
1948