When did India last win an inaugural edition, Like ACT?

Its not often Indian stick wielders win inaugural edition of tournaments. Though a major player and regular in many international tournaments, India hardly has the history of winning the first edition.

Except Olympics and Champions Trophy, India took part in the all other major global tournaments on its first edition, though. Azlan Shah Cup, Asian Games, Asia Cup, and the list goes on.

It is only in 2003, India won a tournament on its first edition. That credit went to Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad. Incidentally, India beat Pakistan in the final, spectacular goals coming from forward Gagan Ajit.

Almost eight years later, now at Ordos, a ghost city for many as hardly any turned up to cheer hockey in the stands, India again made the peck of history.

The former giants India and Pakistan had been trained by foreign coaches, from Australia and The Netherlands respectively, when this rarity again occurred after as many as eight years.

In fact, it is a poetic justice for India, as it used to be Pakistan that used to beat India comprehensively in the other major inaugural editions. Be it 1958 Asian Games, 1971 World Cup, 1981 Asia Cup, its Pakistan who did not allow India to win the inaugural editions. In the first World Cup, Pakistan beat India in the semis while India lost heavily to Pakistan in the first Asia Cup.

The Ordos success is all the more sweetening because it came against much odds; first assignment for a foreign coach, exodus of players on the eve of tournament, team starting the opener with a draw.

Significantly, it is a matter of coincidence that India wins a tournament on tie-break after almost 13 years, the 1998 Asian Games being the last one. However, in 1989, India won the Marshal’s Cup in Nairobi with ever-green Mark Patterson plying a heroic role.