Pakistan, Sept. 11 -- Certain dates hold great significance in a nation's life.

For Pakistanis, September 09, 1960 is one such date. That day, the country won its first Olympic gold medal in any sport, when Pakistan defeated India in the hockey final. The nation had waited for 12 years.

Before Pakistan's birth in 1947, the united British India team had won three consecutive Olympic Games hockey gold medals. Muslim players made up a significant proportion of these teams from India. Hence, an Indo-Pakistan final was expected in the first post-partition Olympiad in 1948. But the Pakistan side failed to land even bronze medal, finishing fourth. Four years later, in the 1952 Olympics, Pakistan again ended fourth. This led to serious soul-sea...