Victor Philips
Victor John Philips is a retired Indian professional field hockey player. A former captain who played as a halfback, he led the Indian national team during the 1978 World Cup, and was a member of the side that won its 1975 edition. He was also a part of the bronze medal-winning squad at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Philips's older brother John Peter represented India at three Olympic Games from 1960 to 1968, winning silver, gold and bronze medals respectively.
About his game, S. Dinakar of The Hindu wrote, "The striking aspects of Philips' game were his speed – he used to practice sprints regularly – and the ability to dribble. Time and again he would leave the defenders in a daze, cutting in dangerously from the right to score or producing defence- splitting crosses. He had his own style of converting penalty strokes, taking a step back, before moving up to push." Mir Ranjan Negi called him "one of the best outside rights India ever produced." In recognition of his contribution to field hockey, Philips was given the award for lifetime achievement by the government of India in 2000.
