Q. Which one of the following is correct in respect of Indian football team's performance in the Olympic Games? (UPSC Prelims 2008)
Answer: India entered the Semi Finals
Notes: India participated in the Olympic football tournament four times: 1948, 1956, 1960, and 1964. In the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, India reached the semi-finals, defeating Australia (4-2) and Yugoslavia (4-1) in the group stage, before losing 0-4 to Bulgaria in the semi-final play-off and 1-0 to Hungary for the bronze medal (3rd/4th place). This remains India's best Olympic football finish. Earlier, in 1948 London, India reached quarter-finals but withdrew due to a barefoot play dispute. Thus, option (d) is correct; options (a)-(c) are inaccurate as India advanced beyond the first round and quarter-finals once.