India will meet Pakistan at the men’s Hockey World Cup for the first time in 16 years on Wednesday, bringing one of the sport’s most storied rivalries back to the tournament stage.
For India, the occasion carries a deeper significance. Its only World Cup triumph came in 1975, in Kuala Lumpur, and the final was against Pakistan.
That 1975 tournament was a landmark edition for more reasons than India’s title. The World Cup came to Asia, and India survived a tournament full of twists to finally lift the trophy.
It was hardly a straightforward campaign.
India lost a World Cup group match for the first time when it went down 2-1 to Argentina. Yet it still finished top of its group, level on points with West Germany but ahead on goal difference.
The league phase also produced one of the tournament’s strangest episodes. India’s final league match against West Germany was initially objected to by both teams. The game was eventually played for 45 minutes, with India leading 1-0, before being abandoned and rescheduled three days later because of bad light. India went on to win the replay 3-1 and seal its place in the semifinals.
Then came the defining moments.
Against host Malaysia in the semifinal, India found itself trailing before Harcharan Singh scored the winner in extra time.
The final against Pakistan followed a similar script. India again had to come from behind, before Ashok Kumar struck the decisive goal in extra time to give India a 2-1 victory and its first, and so far only, men’s Hockey World Cup title.
Published on Aug 18, 2026
