Not many are aware that India were the first gold medallists in Asian Games football history, back when the showpiece event started in 1951 with the Beautiful Game part of the eight-sport programme.

After falling just short of a medal in 1958, India roared back once again in 1962, which was arguably their finest hour at the quadrennial showpiece. A few relatively quiet years later, the Indians picked up their third and final medal, this time a bronze in 1970. Asian Games Special Page | Medal Tally | Schedule

Since then, India have become a pale shadow of their former selves in the sport and that further illustrates how important the achievement back in 1970 was. Asian Games 2023: Who will be the flag-bearers for India in Opening Ceremony? Revealed

Former India international and member of that famous team, Shyam Thapa remembers how they could have clinched gold if luck had gone their way in crucial moments while also illustrating the flawed rules that existed back then.

"The fact that we were the last medal winners in the sport for the country is a sad but important milestone that people should not forget. Playing against the might of Japan, Burma and still putting our best foot forward, that was something that impressed everyone present over there," the 75-year-old told myKhel.

"We could and should have won our opener against Thailand (India came back from two goals down to draw 2-2) and we had peaked during the quarterfinals where we thrashed Indonesia 3-0 (Thapa scored the third)"

However, the tournament had to be condensed following a last-minute change in venue and thus India were forced to play six games in nine days and ultimately, tiredness played a part as the team lost to Burma in the semis.

"Burma were a scary bunch with their big, heavy boots. We were not the most physically intimidating but we never gave them an inch. We were knackered at that point and ultimately faltered as the match went on."

Interestingly, back in those days, there was no concept of penalty shoot-outs with joint winners being the norm throughout. In the final, Burma and South Korea played out a goalless draw after extra time and both were awarded gold medals.

"We should ideally have won silver because South Korea and Burma had played out a goalless draw in the final and was the norm back then, they should have been declared joint winners and thus the silver medal should have been ours.

"Chef de Mission Air Marshal Arjan Singh tried his best to put forward our claims to the organising committee but at that time, there was no media to help us with our case, and we had to be happy with the bronze!"

Despite the sour ending to the tale, the team was jubilant upon their return to the country and the legendary forward recalled the team's meeting with the then-Prime Minister of the country and how the picture taken on that day remains a source of pride and inspiration.

"Indira Gandhi was our Prime Minister back then. She had called for the entire team to be present at her residency after our return to the country. That was a huge thing back then. The picture we took remains adorned on the wall of my home and that memory will linger with me forever."

It has been 53 years since India last claimed a medal in football on the Asian Games stage and while the national football team did return to the Asian Games 2023 stage after nine years, it was an inauspicious start, to say the least.

The team, formed at the last moment, began their Asian Games 2023 journey with a 1-5 loss against hosts China. However, Thapa is happy that at least the federation and government have decided to restore Indian football to a stage where it belongs.