Sports
Hockey India remembers 1975 World Cup winning team
New Delhi, March 15
Forty years back on March
15, 1975, the Indian men's hockey team accomplished a historic feat by
beating Pakistan 2-1 in the World Cup final to earn the title of
champions. Remembering the occasion and achievement, Hockey India (HI)
congratulated the team.
Led by captain Ajit Pal Singh, the team
left no stone unturned to ensure that they got the Cup home from Kuala
Lumpur. They were placed in Group B of the tournament with West Germany,
Australia, England, Argentina and Ghana.
By virtue of three
wins, one loss and one draw, India advanced to the semifinals to play
home team Malaysia where they won 3-2. They had a close contest against
Pakistan in the final and it was Ashok Kumar's all- important winning
goal that gave India the title.
“After 40 years, I still feel
proud of the moment when we earned the title of champions. I would like
to congratulate each member of the winning squad and would like thank
them that they made this day possible for every Indian. It is this feat
which gives us the motivation that we can repeat history and win the
title again," HI president Narinder Batra said.
The team
comprised of Ajit Pal, Ashok, Mohd. Aslam Sher Khan, Harcharan Singh,
Leslie Fernandez, Varinder Singh, Ashok Diwan, Michael Kindo, B.P.
Govinda, H.J.S. Chimni, V.J. Phillips, Onkar Singh, Kaliah P.E., Surjit
Singh, Shivaji Pawar and Mohinder Singh.
The 1975 World Cup was
the third edition of the tournament. India won bronze in the first
edition in 1971, silver in 1973 and went one better the next time. Since
then, India have never been able to reach the last four of the
tournament.