PAKISTAN WINS THE FIRST WORLD CUP IN 1971:

By S.Pervez Qaiser

The move to have a competition at the world level in addition to the Olympic tournament was first initiated in 1969. India and Pakistan jointly made a proposal to this effect at a council meeting of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in Paris on March 30.

The council appointed a commission of eight persons to study the proposal. It reported back to the council on October 26,1969 at Brussels with a recommendation that a ‘World Cup’ tournament be organised at intervals of every two years. This proposal was unanimously accepted and the same commission was asked to draft the corresponding plan. The commission’s proposals in this connection were adopted by the council at a meeting in Brussels on April 12,1970. It was decided to hold the first ever World Cup tournament in 1971.

TROPHY:

Originally, the World Cup design was conceived as a single piece in the form of a hockey stick to be fabricated in gold and silver. But later based a theme given by Lt General K.M.Azhar, then the president of Pakistan Hockey Federation, coupled with genius of its designer, Bashir Majid and skill of some of the most reputed artisans serving in the Corps of Electricals and Mechanical Engineers of Pakistan Army, the trophy took the beautiful shape that you now see. The gold and silver trophy stands on 120.85mm high blade base inlaid with ivory.

FIRST CHAMPION:

The inaugural match in the World Cup was played between host Spain and Japan on October 15,1971 at Barcelona.

Pakistan became the first World Champion of the game beating Spain 1-0 in extra time. Khalid Mehmood was the captain of winning team. India beat Kenya 2-1 to take the third spot. Ten countries participated in the first edition of the World Cup.

As many as 67 goals were scored in 30 matches at an average of 2.23 goals per match. Pakistan ‘s penalty corner specialist Tanvir Dar topped the scoring list with eight goals.

FINAL STANDING IN 1971:

Country P W D L GF GA Success%

1. Pakistan 6 4 1 1 14 9 75.00

2. Spain 6 3 1 2 6 4 58.33

3. India 6 5 – 1 8 3 83.33

4. Kenya 7 3 – 4 8 7 42.85

5. Holland 6 4 – 2 7 5 57.14

6. Germany 7 3 – 4 11 8 42.85

7. France 6 3 – 3 4 7 50.00

8. Australia 6 1 1 4 4 9 25.00

9. Japan 5 2 1 2 4 4 50.00

10. Argentina 5 – – 5 1 11 00.00

Courtesy: FAISEL FEATURES

HOLLAND WINS THE SECOND WORLD CUP IN 1973:

By S.Pervez Qaiser
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The second edition of World Cup Hockey was played at Amsterdam in 1973. Holland became the second country to win the World Cup after beating India via a tie breaker in the final. The two teams finished 2-2 after extra time. The Holland won the tie breaker 4-1 and the World Cup. Nico Spits was the captain of the Dutch team.

Twelve teams featured in this edition. Malaysia, New Zealand, England and Belgium made their first appearance. New Zealand took Australia’s place, having edged them out in the Oceania competition. The tournament was to see the rise of Europe and the fall of Asia in World hockey.

As in the first World Cup in 1971, India and Pakistan were destined to meet in the semi-finals. This time, however, the result was in India’s favour. Centre forward Bilimoga Puttaswamy Govinda dribbled through a host of defenders in the 62nd minute to beat Pakistani ‘keeper Munir Pervez and give India a place in the final.

In the other semi-final, the Netherlands beat West Germany 4-2 on penalty strokes after the teams were locked goalless at the end of extra-time.

The final between India and Holland was a classic. The Dutch were off to a whirlwind start within five minutes when their penalty-corner expert, Ties Kruize, converted one. India responded in similar fashion, with their own penalty-corner expert Surjeet Singh scoring twice. But Kruize equalized from another penalty corner. The match ended 2-2 after 70 minutes and extra-time was played.

With 31 seconds to go, India had a chance to clinch the title. They were awarded a penalty stroke. After much deliberation, it was decided that Govinda should take the stroke despite him having missed one in the 0-0 draw with West Germany in the league stage. He stepped up and pushed. Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Sikking brought off a remarkable save. Then came the tie-breaker. Govinda failed again, and so did Harcharan Singh. The Netherlands converted their first four strokes to win 4-2.

In the battle for third place, West Germany scraped past Pakistan 1-0.

The tournament will be remembered for Sikking’s goalkeeping. If Holland won the title, it was because of him. He was just too good in the tiebreakers, in the semi-final against West Germany and in the final against India.

As many as 127 goals were scored in 42 matches at 3.00 goals per match. Holland’s Ties Kruize was the top scorer in the tournament, with 11 goals.

FINAL STANDING IN 1973:

Country P W D L GF GA Success%

1. Holland 7 5 1 1 13 6 78.57

2. India 7 4 2 1 15 3 71.42

3. Germany 7 5 1 1 7 2 78.57

4. Pakistan 7 4 1 2 16 7 64.28

5. Spain 7 5 – 2 17 5 71.42

6. England 7 2 2 3 11 11 42.85

7. New Zealand 7 2 2 3 16 11 42.85

8. Belgium 7 2 – 5 9 20 29.57

9. Argentina 7 2 3 2 6 10 50.00

10. Japan 7 1 1 5 5 21 21.42

11.Malaysia 7 2 1 4 6 14 35.71

12. Kenya 7 – 2 5 6 17 14.28

INDIA BECOMES WORLD CHAMPIONS IN 1975:

By S.Pervez Qaiser

The World Cup Hockey came to Asia for the first time and Malaysia had the honour of hosting it. This World Cup was played at Kuala Lumpur from March 1 to 15,1975.Australia, after having failed to make it to the previous edition of the tournament, were back, while Poland and Ghana made their first appearance in the competition.

Both India and Pakistan topped their pools. In their semi-finals, Pakistan were too good for Germany, winning 5-1 and thus exacting revenge for the 0-1 defeats in the 1972 Munich Olympics final and the 1973 World Cup bronze medal play-off.

The other semi-final was between India and Malaysia. Over 40,000 spectators turned up for the match, which was interrupted by heavy rain after only seven minutes of play and forced to be played again the next morning, March 14, before the final, which was held later in the day.

The teams were level 2-2 after full time In Extra time, India scored what turned out to be the match-winner. V J Philips tore down the right flank and sent across a precise shot, which Harcharan Singh trapped and sounded the boards.

The final between India and Pakistan was a thriller. It was Pakistan who took the lead, through inside right Zahid Sheikh, who finished off a pass from Islahuddin. Fullback Surjit Singh restored parity for India in the 25th minute of the second session from a penalty corner. Then Ashok Kumar scored the match-winner, pushing the ball home from a melee. The Pakistanis protested, contending that the ball had not crossed the goalline. Malaysian referee G Vijayanathan delayed his decision, but later awarded a goal. Later television replays confirmed that the ball had indeed crossed the goalline.

It was India’s first major crown since 1964, when they had won the Olympic gold at Tokyo. West Germany beat Malaysia 4-0 to finish third.

As many as 173 goals were scored in 42 matches at 4.11. Ties Kruize of Holland was the joint top scorer with Pakistan’s Manzoor-ul Hassan and S.Otulakowski of Poland with seven goals each.

FINAL STANDING IN 1975:

Country P W D L GF GA Success%

1. India 7 5 1 1 19 8 78.57

2. Pakistan 7 4 2 1 20 9 71.42

3. Germany 7 4 1 2 18 14 64.28

4. Malaysia 7 2 2 3 7 10 42.85

5.Australia 7 4 2 1 24 7 71.42

6. England 7 3 1 3 18 18 50.00

7. New Zealand 7 3 1 3 7 12 50.00

8. Spain 7 2 1 4 10 16 35.71

9. Holland 7 3 1 3 17 10 50.00

10. Poland 7 2 1 4 12 18 35.71

11.Argentina 7 3 1 3 15 17 50.00

12. Ghana 7 – – 7 6 36 00.00