Fifth World Cup – Bombay, India (Dec 29, 1981-Jan 12, 1982)
World Cup came to India a year after they won the gold medal at the boycott-ridden 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. The run-up to the tournament was rather ominous with Indian players up in arms after being lodged in the basement of the Wankhede Stadium while other teams were provided five-star accommodation. Following a media blitz and heavy criticism, the authorities shifted the Indian team to a well-appointed hotel.
Though not lacking in home support, India narrowly missed a semi-final spot and eventually settled for fifth place to end a rather disappointing run.
“We had a good chance of finishing in the top three, if not higher, but we lost to Holland 3-4 after leading 2-0, and then 1-2 to Australia when ahead 1-0. These two defeats made all the difference,” recalled M.M. Somaya. “In fact, the Aussies won on a freak goal by Haselhurst, who cut in from the left and flicked home from zero angle. That did it for us.”
The Surjit Singh-led Indian team included many who were part of the 1980 Olympics squad.
“We were playing extremely well and confident of making the semi-finals. But as I said, the defeats to Holland and Australia killed our chances,” said Somaya.
“It was to be the last international tournament on grass and playing on home grounds, I thought it was our best chance to win the Cup a second time,” he said.
In fact, those were the only two defeats India suffered. India had begun strongly, defeating Malaysia 6-2 and the Soviet Union 7-2 and England 4-2 to finish third in the pool.
“I particularly remember Mohammed Shahid’s dazzling stickwork. He was a genius and few defenders could really read his game. He was especially outstanding against the Dutch and I remember him beating six defenders. A true magician he was,” recalled Somaya.
As well as the Indians played, it was Pakistan who hogged the limelight.
“I cannot forget the Pakistan team which had so many great players like skipper Akhtar Rasool and forwards Hassan Sardar, Islahuddin, Kaleemullah, Samiullah and Hanif Khan. I think they deserved to win the Cup for they played like champions,” Somaya said.
Incidentally, the World Cup in Bombay was the last international tournament to be played on natural grass with the International Hockey Federation opting for synthetic surface.
Indian team:
Goalkeepers: Mir Ranjan Negi, Ashok Dewan. Full-backs: Rajinder Singh, Surjit Singh (captain), Vineet Kumar. Half-backs: M.M. Somaya, Ravinder Pal Singh, Onkar Singh, Gurmail Singh. Forwards: Maharaj Kishen Kaushik, Charanjit Kumar, Mervyn Fernandis, Surinder Singh Sodhi, Mohammad Shahid, Syed Ali, Zafar Iqbal. Coach: Harmek Singh.
How they finished:
1. Pakistan; 2. West Germany; 3. Australia; 4. The Netherlands; 5. India; 6. USSR; 7. New Zealand; 8. Poland; 9. England; 10. Malaysia; 11. Spain; 12. Argentina.
rounak