Hockey at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Games:

Shortly before the opening ceremonies, the strong Dutch team withdrew due a boycott over the Hungarian Revolt, leaving the tournament with one less medal contender. The Melbourne Games did see the first Olympic hockey appearances of Australia and New Zealand, both future champions in the event. India breezed through the first round, with double digit victories over the United States and Afghanistan. The other top nations had a harder time reaching the next round, Britain needing a play-off against Australia, while Pakistan and Germany tied 0-0. Germany gave India a run for their money in the semis. Playing against a locked-down defense, India only managed to break the German lines once, late in the game. In the first ever hockey encounter between India and Pakistan, the Pakistani also showed that the gap between Indian hockey and the rest of the world was being closed fast. A single goal after the break gave India the advantage in the final, for their sixth consecutive gold medal.