By ERROL D’CRUZ

The match-winning goal by Ashok Kumar against Pakistan in the final of the 1975 World Cup at the Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a talking point till today. Similarly, the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley between England and West Germany too courted a controversy for almost half a century.

India won 2-1 after trailing by a goal at half-time. Ashok scored from a long corner but the ball ricocheted back into the playing area. Pakistan claimed it hit the woodwork and bounced back into the playing area while umpire G. Vijayanathan of Malaysia had no doubt it had crossed the goal line before coming back after hitting the inner side of the upright.
One couldn’t ignore the similarities to another World Cup final in another sport. The 1966 World Cup final at Wembley between England and West Germany. The controversy surrounding Geoff Hurst’s goal in extra-time to make it 3-2 for the hosts (eventually 4-2) was debated for almost half a century before computer technology suggested that referee Gottfried Dienst of Switzerland and linesman Tofiq Bahramov of the erstwhile Soviet Union were correct.
Hurst’s shot hit the crossbar and rebounded downwards, on to the goal line before spinning away from the goal. It left everyone in doubt whether it was a goal or not. Not too dissimilar from Ashok Kumar’s essay.
That World Cup title remains the only one for England, the inventors of soccer. Just as the 1975 World Cup success has been the lone title for India, the spiritual home of hockey.

INDIA AT THE MEN’S FIELD HOCKEY WORLD CUP
After winning Bronze and silver at the first two World Cup Hockey tournaments held in Barcelona and Amsterdam respectively, Indian men’s field hockey team took part in the 3rd World Cup hockey held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The team: 1975 WORLD CUP HOCKEY: Ajit Pal Singh (Captain), Leslie Fernandes, Ashok Dewan, Michael Kindo, Surjit Singh, Aslam Sher Khan, Virender Singh, Onkar Singh, VJ Philips, Harcharan Singh, Ashok Kumar, Shivaji Pawar, BP Govinda, HJS Chimni, P E Kaliah, Mohinder Singh. Coach: GS Bodhi Manager: Balbir Singh Sr.

Matches:

LEAGUE

Beat England 2-1
Drew Australia 1-1
Beat Ghana 7-1
Lost to Argentina 0-1
Beat Germany 3-1

KNOCK-OUT

SEMIFINAL

Beat Malaysia 3-2

Shivaji, Aslam Sher, Harcharan

FINAL

Beat Pakistan 2-1
Surjit Singh & Ashok Kumar)

HIGHLIGHT: India won the crown at the 3rd Field Hockey World Cup in 1975. India is yet to win medal even though 11 more editions were staged as on 2021.