India’s 1975 World Cup-winning hockey team’s captain revisits his team’s path to glory in Kuala Lumpur.
I WAS NERVOUS before the start of our first match in the 1975 World Cup. It was the most important tournament of my life and for our team, which had great players who are now considered legends of the game. But those two weeks were crucial for all of us and it was imperative that we played not for ourselves but as a team to realise our dream of winning the grand tournament.
As captain, I was expected to lead by example and motivate the others. But everyone in our squad was self-motivated, and they knew what was required to come out on top. I remember one instance. When we arrived at our hotel in Kuala Lumpur, the trophy was kept at the reception desk, and a glance at it fuelled my desire of lifting it for my country even more.We had already prepared intensely through a gruelling camp in Punjab, but we were aware that tougher yards lay ahead of us at the Stadium Merdeka. Clubbed in a tough pool, we had to play England, Ghana, West Germany, Australia and Argentina. Barring Ghana, the other five teams were capable of finishing in the top two and securing a qualification to the semifinals.
In a big tournament like the World Cup, it is imperative for teams to begin well to avoid putting themselves in do-or-die situations.
Esta historia es de la edición December 2018 de Sports Illustrated India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 2018 de Sports Illustrated India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Hockey World Cup- India Gears Up For Glory
Hosts India will have to play out of their skins to win their second Hockey Men’s World Cup title.
The Drive For Consistency
Find something you love doing and use that to fall in love with your body, so you can embrace change and sustain a pattern that lets you unlock the best version of yourself
The Phenomenon
Kevin Pietersen may have retired from playing, but he will remain a part of the game and Test cricket folklore for a long time
Powering The Action
The IPL is intense. Players let off the fireworks on the pitch, but it is the coaches and support staff that light the fuses. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED traces the evolution of this critical aspect of the game, and why Indians still need to make a mark
A Steep Learning Curve
Making the transition from the junior level to the senior team has been quite challenging but a hugely rewarding experience.
Scorecard - Don't Blame It on Rio
Apathy towards the Olympics could cast golf in a negative light and jeo paradise its standing with the IOC for the 2024 Games and beyond.
Bench Strength
With the Likes of Nair, Yadav, Jadhav and Chahal Performing With Maturity Over the Past Year, Team India’s Bench Strength Looks Strong Ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Sir Roger Bannister (1929-2018)
A legend in his own time, Sir Roger was most proud of his neurology research but his historic sub-four mile run in 1954 is still regarded as one of his best breakthroughs
Battle Ready
A star-studded Indian contingent seeks to reshape its approach with rising talent, even as seasoned warriors in badminton, weight-lifting, shooting and wrestling aim for gold
Safe Passage
The Dustup That Marred the Return of Chris Paul to L.a. Has Faded. As the Point God Settles Into a New Home, He Has a New Running Buddy and a Group of Teammates Who Feel Like a Family
