Rolling back to the year of glory — 1975 World Cup-winning India hockey team to celebrate golden jubilee of epic win

Nineteen seventy-five was an eventful year. March brought India’s first and only World Cup hockey title. On June 21, the West Indies won the inaugural cricket World Cup, and five days later, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi brought India under an emergency rule. On Independence Day, Indian cinema’s grandeur hit the screens with Sholay, a timeless entertainer to this day.

The hockey heroes, poster boys in the 1970s, will celebrate the golden jubilee of that epic triumph today (Saturday) at an event in the Capital.

“It feels nice to be remembered and honoured,” said Ashok Diwan, the team’s rock-like custodian.

“I still get goosebumps when I reflect on that unforgettable tournament,” noted Aslam Sher Khan, the team’s saviour against Malaysia in the semifinal when he slammed the equaliser in the dying moments.

Aslam and Diwan were not in the original starting lineup. Michael Kindo was preferred to Aslam because of his tackling skills, while Leslie Fernandes was considered better than Diwan.

Indian captain Ajit Pal Singh (left) holding aloft the trophy after India beat Pakistan 2-1 in the third World Cup hockey final in Kuala Lumpur, Saturday March 15, 1975.
| Photo Credit:
AP

Aslam, then 22, and Diwan, 21, changed the course of Indian hockey with their exceptional show in the semifinal against Malaysia and the title match against Pakistan. They were thrown into the cauldron, with India trailing 1-2 and barely 12 minutes left before the final whistle.

The coach, GS Bodhi, and manager, Balbir Singh (Sr), stood crestfallen. The match was slipping away. “Balbir ji summoned me, and his eyes pleaded for a miracle. He held my face and said, “Tu hee bacha sakta hai. Kuch kar de (Do something. Only you can save us).”

Malaysia was backed by over 50,000 partisan spectators—no Indian voice from the galleries. “It was a classic contest, with India earning 17 penalty corners, but Surjit Singh could not breach the defence of (Malaysian goalkeeper) Ziauddin. “Surjit had run into a mental block,” recalled Aslam.

With five minutes left, Aslam got to block a move. “I liked the feel of the ball on my stick. I felt confident. And then came the penalty corner—hardly four minutes to go. I realised it was my moment created by destiny. I spotted a nervous Balbir ji from the corner of my eye and then geared up for the strike, the shot of my life. I kissed the tavern (lucky charm) my mother had given me and slipped into the act of hitting the penalty corner,” Aslam said.

It was a moment to live for if he scored.

“I assessed the goalkeeper and decided to hit the ball to his right, a challenging shot. It is vivid. The goalkeeper moved to his left, and the ball beautifully hit the board on his right.”

Aslam Sher Khan (left) in action during the National Hockey Championship for the Rangaswamy Cup match at Race Course Ground, Madurai on August 30, 1978.
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu

The stadium went silent, and Aslam’s hockey found its voice from that goal, instantly transforming him into a reverential figure back home. The equaliser galvanised India, and Harcharan Singh clinched it nine minutes into extra time with a goal. The much-forgotten Shivaji Pawar had got India the lead early in the second half before Malaysia sank in two goals.

“It was the most momentous day of my life (the equaliser) because I had to prove myself with time fast running out. The sequence is etched in my memory – BP Govinda pushed the ball, and Ajitpal Singh stopped it impeccably. An error at that stage would have been a disaster,” said Aslam, whose father, Ahmed Sher Khan, was part of the Indian team that won gold at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

For Diwan, the game against Malaysia was an eternal reminder of “luck” and “destiny“ being an integral part of your defeats and victories in sport and life. “I was sent in as a substitute, probably a desperate move because Fernandes was not confident. We could not have made a comeback if he conceded a goal in those closing stages. I knew my job was important and made a few saves during the extra time session.

The final saw India prevail over Pakistan in a bitter contest. “What a final it was, but the Malaysia match was worth reliving endless times. We were in tears after beating Malaysia,” said Diwan, who stressed the bonding of the team was forged by Balbir (Sr), who ensured the team visited a temple, church, gurdwara and masjid a day before the final.

Ashok Kumar was the hero of the final, as India staged a remarkable comeback after Zahid’s 17th-minute goal. Surjit equalised 27 minutes later, and Ashok pulled off a stunner in the 51st minute. The team never misses reliving and celebrating the two most epoch-making goals – Aslam and Ashok. It was Ashok who earned the penalty corner, which Aslam converted.

“I have relived the goal (against Pakistan) many times. And each time the fans asked me to share that joy, I enjoyed narrating it. (Victor) Philips initiated the move on the right and relayed the ball to me. I hit the ball on the run and found the target, much to the delight of the team and our supporters,” Ashok told Sportstar.

The 1975 campaign was a culmination of the efforts of the Punjab Government, which had sponsored the team’s preparation in Chandigarh. “That camp was a blessing with the support of (Chief Minister) Zail Singh,” remembered Aslam.

Diwan and Varinder Singh missed the celebrations at the ground after the final. “We were whisked away for a dope test, and it took us so long to give urine samples,” revealed Diwan. They were showered with gifts, including music systems, a novelty in those times.

Trouble awaited the team at the Madras Airport. “We had to pay duty for the electronic goods we had brought,” said Diwan. In a memorable gesture, Mrs Gandhi, when apprised of the development by the Indian Hockey Federation president, MAM Ramaswamy, issued orders to waive the duty charges. “The authorities came to the hotel to return the money,” laughed Diwan.

A few years ago, some team members assembled in Betul (Madhya Pradesh) to watch the recording of the India-Pakistan final. A hockey lover had managed the video and invited the players to a theatre in Betul. “We were transported back into time,” said Diwan