Those were the times when tournaments were few and far between. Indian team of 1985 grabbed one such rare opportunity that came in its way in the mid 80s, to boost its own morale and give the nation its moments of joy. This is the story of Md. Shahid’s team winning the second Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh. Midifielder MM Somaya recollects the circumstances in which the victory was achieved and what it meant to the team that was then passing through a rough patch.

If ever there was emergency oxygen to resuscitate Indian hockey, it came at Ipoh 1985 in the form of the country’s maiden Azlan Shah Cup title.

As the 28th edition of the Cup takes place in the very same Malaysian city, M.M. Somaya, the enterprising, efficient and ebullient right-half of that Indian team gazes through the haze of time to recollect a triumph almost 34 years ago.

“The Ipoh success resurrected the team,” the Mumbai-based former India captain fondly recalls. “Winning at the time was rare and this win came after a very long time.”

Somaya, 59, also recounted the troubled times endured by the Indian team.

“We were without three star players – Mervyn Fernandis (inside-right), Romeo James (goalkeeper) and Rajinder Singh Jr (half-back) who were suspended for a lengthy period following an incident in the 1985 Dhaka Asia Cup final against Pakistan (which India lost 2-3),” Somaya said.

Pic: MM Somaya is sitting far left with Indian hockey legends)

“Our team at Dhaka was a very good unit but the suspensions hit us hard,” said the India captain at the 1988 Seoul Olympics remorsefully.

The Azlan Shah triumph came when Indian hockey had struck rock bottom. The team boarded the plane to Ipoh after finishing sixth and last in the Champions Trophy in Perth — a dubious first for India at an FIH event.

Then, in Ipoh, they lost their opener against Spain 2-3. There didn’t seem light at the end of the tunnel.

India, however, pulled it out of the fire.

A victory over Australia (an experimental team notwithstanding) and a sparkling 1-0 win over Pakistan in the semifinals set India against hosts Malaysia in the final.

“We considered winning the final against Malaysia a formality and we scored a clear-cut 4-2 win,” Somaya, who hails from Coorg, Karnataka, recalled. “The Malaysians had talent but were referred to as a team who had stamina for just one half,” he said in lighter vein.

Somaya, who put hockey before football which he played with aplomb, was a member of the national selection committee from 1988-1998. He still exudes passion for sport and took time off a veterans exhibition hockey match he played in Coorg to go down memory lane.

“I remember my opposite number Stephen van Huizen, the coach of the Malaysian national team in recent times and Sarjit Singh, another key player,” the erudite Somaya, who worked for Bharat Petroleum in a senior managerial position before he retired last year, recollected.(PIC: Azlan Shah Cup winning Indian team of 1985)

“The victory was a shot-in-the-arm after the travails of the recent past,” Somaya, who won a gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, said.

More than the final, what is etched deeply in Somaya’s memory is the goal that felled Pakistan in the semifinals.

“I crossed to Hardeep Singh, one of two centre halves in the 4-4-2 formation and he relayed the ball to captain Mohammad Shahid who side-stepped the goalkeeper to score a neat goal,” said the Arjuna awardee, bubbling with excitement.

It’s that moment that stands out like a beacon for the elan former player who, with India teammates, endured a turbulent ride through the 1980s.

India is currently in Ipoh chasing its glorious moments. Will the team that won against Japan and conceded a point to emerging South Korea in the two matches played so far, bring a 1985 moment is asking too much. Isn’t?