s2h Team
India may have won the 1975 World Cup but surely another gold medal should have been awarded to the organizers, the Malaysian Hockey Federation.
The event was all but washed out by torrential rain, typical of the climate at the time of year. It was nothing short of a miracle that the event met its schedule over the fortnight in the first half of March.
1975 World Cup Hockey Snippet 1
With rain threatening, the organizers looked skywards, clicked their fingers and summoned the “Bohmohs”, Malaysian medicine men or somewhat unfairly referred to as “witch doctors” apparently with the prowess of casting away the ominous rain bearing clouds.
The Bomohs arrived and began the task of saving the World Cup from sinking into a deluge. Prayers, chanting, rituals. They could not be accused for a lack of effort.
Even the venerable priests of weather control can have a bad day in the office – actually, several bad days! The rain gods were in no mood to compromise. In fact, they turned their wrath on the event and inclement weather marred the World Cup right from the outset.
The MHF, decided to give the Bomohs a helping hand, right here on terra firma and swung into action. From sprinkling sawdust on to grass pitches (in use at the time) to tweaking fixtures and, even on one occasion, playing a match on two different grounds miles from each other, the organizers did a tight rope act with the schedule, fixtures and logistics.
India’s match against Germany was abandoned with India leading 1-0 at halftime and replayed from the start days later (India won 3-1 to win the pool and make the semifinals). Pakistan led 1-0 against New Zealand before the heavens opened. The organizers packed both teams into a bus and transported them to another pitch many miles away to play out the second half! Pakistan replicated their halftime lead to win 2-0.
And so it continued. India’s semi-final against Malaysia was rained off after nine minutes with the scoreboard blank and the same was replayed the next morning. India famously won in extra-time 3-2 after coming close to defeat.
The efforts of the organizers and perhaps the never-say-die spirit of the Bomohs who sustained their chanting perhaps bore fruit. The final was played in bright sunshine and India and Pakistan produced a thriller, the former winning 2-1 before 70,000 sun-drenched fans!
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 7-0
Lost to Argentina 1-2
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.