In which year did India win its first Olympic gold medal in men's field hockey?

Introduction / Context:
India has a rich history in Olympic men field hockey and dominated the sport for several decades. The first Olympic gold medal in hockey is a historic milestone that laid the foundation for India reputation as a hockey powerhouse. Competitive exams often ask about this particular year because it connects sports, history, and national pride. This question asks you to identify the year in which India first won Olympic gold in men field hockey.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sport is men field hockey.
• We must determine the year of India first Olympic gold medal in this sport.
• The options given are 1928, 1932, 1936, and 1948.
• We assume standard Olympic history with hockey as a team sport.

Concept / Approach:
The concept tested is historical knowledge of the Olympic Games and India performance in hockey. India won its first Olympic hockey gold at the Amsterdam Olympics in 1928. This victory started a long sequence of gold medals that continued through multiple subsequent Games. The usual approach is to remember that 1928 marked the beginning of India golden era in hockey, followed by wins in 1932 and 1936. Once you fix the starting point as 1928 in your memory, questions like this become straightforward.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the question is about the first Olympic gold, not later ones. Step 2: Recall that India dominance in Olympic hockey began at the Amsterdam Games. Step 3: Identify the year of the Amsterdam Olympics as 1928. Step 4: Recognise that India continued to win gold medals in subsequent Games in 1932 and 1936, but those are not the first title. Step 5: Choose 1928 as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, consider the sequence of early Olympic victories. 1928 (Amsterdam) was India first gold, 1932 (Los Angeles) and 1936 (Berlin) continued the winning streak, and 1948 (London) marked India first gold as an independent nation after World War II. If you recall that hockey golds are often grouped as a long chain starting in 1928, that starting year is the one required here. This timeline check confirms that 1928 is the correct option.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1932: India did win hockey gold at the 1932 Olympics, but it was not the first time; it was part of the continuation of dominance after 1928.
1936: Again, India won gold in Berlin 1936, but that was a later title, not the first one in Olympic hockey history for India.
1948: This year is important because it marks India first Olympic hockey gold after independence, but the first ever hockey gold came in 1928, so 1948 is too late for this question.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse the first ever gold with the first gold after independence, which occurred in 1948. Others simply pick the earliest year they remember from later questions without connecting it to Amsterdam 1928. To avoid such errors, memorise the sequence clearly: 1928, 1932, and 1936 as the three early consecutive gold medals, with 1928 as the starting point. Linking these years to their host cities further strengthens your recall.

Final Answer:
India won its first Olympic gold medal in men field hockey in the year 1928, so option A is correct.