Witch doctors at a World Cup?! | #244
+ Donald Trump's imaginary friends 🤔
Mitron,
What’s the first thought that comes to mind when someone says “ India winning the World Cup”? Kapil Dev’s toothy grin lifting the Prudential World Cup? Or MSD’s six at the Wankhede? Perhaps a memory from the T20 World Cup wins?
We probably do not picture a turbaned Sardar hoisted by his teammates with a World Cup in his hand. Today’s newsletter wants to relive stories from India’s first ever World Cup victory - exactly 50 years ago on this day in Kuala Lumpur as Ajit Pal Singh led an extraordinary Indian side to sadly its only Hockey World Cup win till date.
Things we learnt this week 🤓
Cricket famously stops when there is a bit of rain. These days hockey is played on astro-turf and players continue to play despite heavy downpours. But the 1975 World Cup was played on grass and in the famously tropical climate of Kuala Lumpur. The authorities first sprinkled saw dust on most of the grass pitches to ensure they remained firm. They also enlisted the services of witch doctors to repel the rain. It didn’t work at least in the group game involving Pakistan and New Zealand. Pakistan were leading 1-0 when it started pouring cats and dogs. The organizers packed both the teams into buses and took them to another part of the city where it wasn’t raining and completed the game, which Pakistan eventually won 2-0. Pakistan managed to weather the storm to come out on top.
The Kuala Lumpur Airport with banners welcoming the teams arriving for the World Cup. The origin of the Hockey World Cup is interesting - It was dreamt up by Air Marshal Nur Khan of Pakistan. He took his proposal to the FIH (International Hockey Federation, in a posh sounding French accent) who agreed to the tournament. Since it was the Air Marshal’s idea, the first World Cup was slated to be in Pakistan in October 1971. In 1971, India and Pakistan had a little kerfuffle over what is today called Bangladesh and India’s participation in the World Cup was opposed by a man who played test cricket for both countries Abdul Hafeez Khardar. But in the end, FIH, much like ICC in later years, said that India’s participation is more important to the game than regional differences and moved the tournament to Spain. It was fitting that Pakistan were the first ever winners of the Hockey World Cup by beating India in the semis and hosts Spain in the finals. Nifty diplomatic stickwork was needed to get the tournament going.
After losing at the semis in 1971 and losing in the finals to Netherlands in 1973, India finally set the record straight by winning the tournament in a closely fought final against Pakistan. In an exciting game, Pakistan took the lead in the first half through a goal from Zahid Sheikh. India levelled the scores in the 44th minute through a Surjit Singh penalty corner. In the 51st minute, Ashok Kumar scored the winning goal for India. Besides being a star hockey player in his own right, Ashok Kumar’s father is the legendary Dhyan Chand! But here is where the story goes sour - The players didn’t get the recognition they deserved. The lack of TV coverage for this tournament, combined with administrative apathy ensured that Indian hockey couldn’t build up on this enormous win unlike the love cricket got after 1983. A few exhibition matches involving film stars were organised to raise funds for the 1975 team. The Uttar Pradesh Government gifted each member a two-wheeler. That was about it. A telling stat is that no son or daughter of anyone that played for 1975 winning squad ever took up hockey professionally. This was also sadly the last occasion that India even reached the semifinals at the hockey world cup!
Here’s a shoutout to the squad in our only World Cup win:
Ajit Pal Singh, 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
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💟 IWTK