Its was one of its kind victory in the annals of Indian hockey. The Indians led by the ebullient tribal star Prabodh Tirkey, which included his elder brother Ignace Tirkey, did not concede even solitary defeat in the whole of tournament. From day one the host played like a lion among lambs in what was the largest Asia Cup field till today. As never before the spirited Indians even managed to gloss over taunting and history breaking South Koreans not once but twice. India’s Chennai Asia Cup victory is epoch making.
There was no inkling the kind of history is about to unfurl when India started its campaign modestly in September 2007 in the first Men’s Asia Cup that India hosted.
India struggled to defeat emerging China, which will host the Beijing Olympics in an year’s time from then, in the opener. Veteran and the legend Dilip Tirkey, who was on his third of four Asia Cups,salvaged India for victory with a single goal.
There was no stopping the Indians thereafter.
India was in Group A with stalwart team South Korea in the company
With warm up victories over Sri Lanka and Thailand, India beat South Korea 3-2 in the pool, and thus made itself ready to tie with Japan in the semis.
Japan was a stunner in Chennai. It tamed Rehan Butt led Pakistan comprehensively in their tour opener, and Pakistan hardly recovered thereafter.
It was for the first time that Pakistan did not make the cut for the semis.
When the Groups were made, it was kept in mind India-Pak tie either in the semis or the finals, but these were not to be as the Japanese had different ideas.
However, the Japanese juggernaut stuttered against the charged up Indian team.
Indian form was such that the semis against Japan looked a formality (4-1)
The final was expected to be a thriller, the rival being South Koreans, who were simply nightmares for both India and Pak.
It was not to be. It also turned out to be a formality.
Chennai’s Mayor Radhakrishnan stadium’s has stands on three sides. The opposite one to the main was done on bamboo. Whatever the set up, the stands were full.
The Koreans for once were outplayed for a stunning 7-2 margin. Koreans were used to even bigger stands in India, like 1995 Indira Gold Cup in Delhi. But they were undone by the Joaquim’s wards on that day, erupting in the process an euphoria among mad Chennai fans
the 5-goal margin victory that India posted is by far the biggest in an Asia Cup final.
India was for the first time defending champions in Chennai, and proved their mettle beyond doubt.
Statistically, its only time that India won the Asia Cup second time.
India have so far won the Asia Cup only twice, but the 2007 one was special.
Being won in a such a commanding fashion against the glare of film Chak de India, which was being run in many theatres in Chennai, hockey turned out to be a talk of town stuff for that whole fortnight.
The way things stand now, it will be a Herculean task for modern India to replicate the Chennai feat.
Prabhjot Singh, the left winger, was the livewire forward, and fittingly topped the Indian goal scorer’s chart with 17 goals.
Over all India struck 57 goals.
India is yet to win another Asia Cup after Chennai.