Hockey legend credits PU girls hostel for 1975 World Cup victory

Former hockey stalwart, Brigadier Harcharan Singh (retd), the attacking left-winger from the 1975 Indian Hockey World Cup-winning squad, was clearly carried away as he credited a Panjab University girls hostel for the feat.

Speaking to young male and female sportspersons at a felicitation ceremony organised by the Punjab Government at the Panjab Municipal Bhawan in Sector 35-A, Brigadier Harcharan, in a lighter vein, explained that the preparatory camp for the squad was held at PU, and the team stayed at one of the hostels right across the girls hostel.

Dubbing the lodging the “best thing”, the 75-year-old joked, “It was a big motivation for playing well. And, whenever I attribute a factor in the team’s win...I count the presence of the girls in that hostel right at the top.”

As the room burst into laughter, Singh shifted focused to the hardships and concerns of triple Olympian Balbir Singh (Senior)—who was the manager of the World Cup winning squad. “It was a tough ask of him. He used to sit on a chair the entire night to ensure the boys return to the hostel and limiting contact with the girl students...these things apart, the team spirit was high. We used to reach the tournament venue and raise aloud a phrase from Bhagat Singh’ poem, Idekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qatil mein (let us see how much strength there is in the arms of the executioner)...it still gives me goosebumps,” said Harcharan amid a round of applause.

Adding to the lighter mood of the event, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann joked, “When Harcharan ji was talking about the team’s training camp at the university, I was afraid that he would ask for a cash award (Rs 5 crore) for the university girls’ hostel as well for their contribution in the team’s win.”

Singh etched his name in the history books with his pivotal role in the World Cup winning campaign. His standout moment came in the semifinal against Malaysia when he scored the crucial winner in extra time, turning the tide in favour of India who trailed 1-2. The victory, fuelled by substitute Aslam Sher Khan’s late goal, propelled India to the final against archrivals Pakistan.

Singh contribution in the summit clash cannot be forgotten either as he had initiated the title-winning move for the side.

Later at the event, Singh also appreciated the Punjab Government’s approach to honour the veteran players of the state. “This is the first state to have triple folded the veterans’ pension. In a span of little time, we have almost received Rs 2 lakh. I would like to thank the government on all veterans’ behalf. Earlier, the formalities were more but now it’s vice versa,” he added. He also congratulated the Indian hockey team for winning back-to-back bronze medals in Olympics and other international and national achievers from the state.

A famous medal sweep

Making his international debut in 1969 against Kenya in a test series in Amritsar, he became a stalwart for the Indian men’s hockey with a bronze medal win at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Besides, he secured silver medals at the 1970 and 1974 Asian Games. Singh went on to win a silver, bronze and gold medal at three Hockey World Cups between 1971 and 1975. He ended his career as one of only four hockey players globally to have a complete medal set, having won bronze, silver and gold medals at the World Cup stage.