Hockey was bigger sport then Cricket in India back in 70s until 83 World Cup happened and India successfully lifted prudentialξ Cup under the able leadership of Kapil Dev.
Let’s jump the bandwagon, Indian Hockey team was a dominating force post independence till 80s until the AstroTurf surface kicked in and Men in Blue failed to adapt that surface ultimately the Hockey glory was lost.
The year 1975 was special for Indian Hockey and marked the golden period in Sports, where India won World Cup in the same year under the able leadership of Ajit Pal Singh where they defeated Arch rivals Pakistan by 2-1 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Aslam Sher Khan narrated his gameplay and how India won Semifinal round against Malayasia and Final against Pakistan.
While narrating his story Khan stated that “I have been involved with Indian Team for quite some time now but eagerly waiting to make an impact and I clearly remember Dr Batra managed to get palmist where he saw my hand and stated very soon you would be receiving the biggest opportunity for 5 minutes which will ultimately change your life”.
The next day semifinal encounter between India and Malaysia happened where India was initially trailing behind 1-2 .
Men in Blue had an opportunity to convert 17 penalty corners in that game which they failed to convert even once.
Looking at the context of the match India would be hoping for equalizer then miracle happened when Balbir Singh called Aslam Sher Khan and put his hand on the chest and stated that “Son Go and Save India ” with his moist eyes .
Ultimately Aslam Sher Khan utilized that moment where India successfully defeated Malaysia by 3-2 in extra time
Malaysian Crowd went silent as they have would have hardly imagined that Men in Blue would picked up these remarkable victory.
Indian fans who were silent throughout the match, started cheering once India won the game against Malaysia.
The next match wasn’t easy where arch rivals India and Pakistan met in the night of the final.
India defeated Pakistan by 2-1 in a close encounter when they won world cup came back to India they received warm reception once they came home.
Aslam Sher Khan stated ” When I returned back to Bhopal I heard slogans like Shero ka Sher Aslam Sher”
“It was surreal moment can’t describe in words and probably it is certainly described as one of the best moments in life”
We heard that Raj Kapoor was planning to make movie on our victory but the idea got scrapped.
I was offered 25,000 for five years to act in cinema but I politely declined said Aslam.
He concluded by stating that ” I was also offered to coach US Women’s Hockey team in 1984 but I declined it politely”.
Every peak has its own ups and downs , for Europeans to beat us in the game, they came with a concept life Astro Turf as it was hard for them to beat us grass field.
India have won only world cup so far in 1975 is termed as the era of Golden Hockey in Indian Sporting ecosystem.