The year 1975 holds a special place in the hearts of Indian hockey fans. It was a year of redemption, for the Indian men's hockey team who had lost its it's shine on the world stage. Following the Olympic gold in 1964, Indian hockey witnessed a gradual decline, having to be contented with bronze medals in the subsequent international tournaments. The quality fo the team was such that anything less than the top spot was seen as a failure.
Back in the 1970s, India struggled to make a mark in World Cup tournaments. During the inaugural Hockey World Cup held at Barcelona in 1971, India secured a bronze medal while arch-rivals Pakistan lifted the trophy. The 1973 edition in Amstelveen was even more heartbreaking. India was on the verge of winning the final against the Netherlands and lifting the trophy. Despite leading 2-0, India went onto lose the match in penalty shootout.
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Winning the Hockey World Cup remained a distant dream but the year 1975 once again revived India's hockey. India had a formidable team led by captain Ajit Pal Singh, Ashok Kumar, Govinda, V. Phillips, Surjit Singh, and Michael Kindo. However, the Pakistan team was no less either comprising of star star-studded lineup which had stars like Akhtar Rasool, Samiullah, Islahuddin, and Saleem Sherwani.
India’s campaign started with 2-1 win over England, followed by 1-1 draw against Australia and 7-0 win against Ghana. However, in the final match, India went down to Argentina 2-1. Despite the loss, India topped the group with 7 points.
However, The real test came in the semifinals against hosts Malaysia, who had the advantage of a passionate home crowd. The match was a nerve-wracking affair, with Malaysia leading 2-1 for most of the game. India earned multiple penalty corners, but their regular taker, Surjit Singh, was struggling. In a desperate move, coach Balbir Singh brought on a young 21-year-old defender from Bhopal, Aslam Sher Khan.
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The momentum of the match changed post the substitution. With just four minutes left, India earned another penalty corner. Aslam Sher Khan, before taking the shot, kissed the tabeez (amulet) given to him by his mother. His powerful strike found the net, sending the game into extra time. Harcharan Singh then scored the winning goal, sealing India’s place in the final. On the other side, Pakistan showcased sheer dominance by thrashing Germany 5-1 in their semifinal.
The final match against Pakistan was fiercely contested, but the defining moment came when Ashok Kumar, son of the legendary Dhyan Chand, scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory. It was not a spectacular solo effort but a scrappy goal from a goalmouth melee. Yet, it was the goal that won India its first and only Hockey World Cup title.
Unfortunately, India has never reached the top of the hockey world since. The gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics came in a tournament that lacked many top teams due to the boycott. The introduction of astro-turf in the 1976 Montreal Olympics drastically changed the game, and India struggled to adapt. It took decades for Indian hockey to rebuild its stature.
Now, with consecutive Olympic bronze medals in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, hope has been rekindled. But the ultimate dream remains the golden glow of another World Cup victory. Until then, the memories of 1975 continue to inspire generations of Indian hockey enthusiasts.
