Chandigarh: During a ceremony hosted by the Punjab government in Chandigarh, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was present alongside four members of the Indian hockey team that won the 1975 World Cup—Brigadier (retd) Harcharan Singh, Brigadier (retd) HJS Chimini, Ashok Diwan, and Onkar Singh. The event became particularly poignant for Dr. Inderpreet Cheema and her husband, Dr. Sandeep Inder Cheema, as the anchor paid tribute to Inderpreet’s father, the legendary Indian forward Surjit Singh Randhawa.
Randhawa played a crucial role in the 1975 World Cup final against Pakistan, scoring vital equalizers before Ashok Kumar netted the winning goal at Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, securing India’s first and, to date, only Hockey World Cup Trophy. Dr. Inderpreet was only three years old when the family tragically lost Surjit Singh Randhawa in an accident in 1984. The event marked the 50th anniversary of India’s historic World Cup victory, evoking deep emotions for Dr. Inderpreet.
“If my father were here today, he would have celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Hockey World Cup on March 15 with his teammates, sharing the same enthusiasm he had for the sport. I was too young to remember him when we lost him, but meeting his former teammates and hearing their stories about his love for the game and his character off the field brings us immense joy. My son, Kamneev Inder Cheema, is a tennis player, and he feels emotional whenever he hears about my father’s achievements,” Dr. Inderpreet shared with The Indian Express.
The 1975 World Cup-winning Indian hockey team comprised 16 members, with eight players hailing from Punjab, including captain Ajitpal Singh, Surjit Singh Randhawa, Harcharan Singh, Harbinder Singh Chimni, Onkar Singh, Mohinder Singh Munshi, Ashok Diwan, and Varinder Singh. Although Randhawa, Varinder Singh, and Mohinder Singh Munshi have passed away, their families, along with the team’s manager and three-time Olympic gold medallist Balbir Singh Senior, coach Gurcharan Singh Bodhi, and team doctor Dr. Rajendra Kalra, were invited to the event.
Mann initially welcomed the hockey legends at his home before proceeding to the function. He later brought the hockey legends and the families of the late World Cup champions to the ongoing Punjab Vidhan Sabha Session to honor them.
Chanchal Randhawa, the wife of Randhawa, was unable to attend the event due to health issues, along with her son Sarbrinder Singh Randhawa, but she conveyed her appreciation to the Punjab government. “It is a significant honor for the families of players who are no longer with us. We married in 1976, so I was not part of his life during the World Cup victory. However, he would often share memories of that historic final against Pakistan. Surjit was always a team player and would be pleased to see his teammates receiving this recognition from above,” stated Chanchal Randhawa.
Present at the event was Satpal Singh, brother of Mohinder Munshi, who scored four goals in the 1975 World Cup, along with Balbir Singh Senior’s grandson, Kabir Singh Bhomia, and coach Gurcharan Singh Bodhi’s son, Manjit Singh Bodhi.
“My grandfather, Balbir Singh Senior, was not only the manager of the 1975 World Cup-winning Indian hockey team but also regarded every player as his own son. During the training camp at Panjab University, he experienced the loss of his father, and his wife Sushil suffered a brain hemorrhage. Nevertheless, he did not take a single day off from the camp to attend to his family. It is commendable that the Punjab government is honoring these hockey legends. Additionally, 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of India’s first hockey gold medal at the 1948 London Olympics. Despite our efforts, there were no initiatives to celebrate this milestone. Therefore, such recognitions are always appreciated,” remarked Bhomia.
Brigadier Harcharan Singh (retd) recounted his reflections on the memorable final. “After our defeat in the 1973 World Cup final against Holland, our sole objective was to secure the 1975 World Cup trophy. Achieving that on the historic day of March 15, 1975, by overcoming Pakistan is a cherished memory for us. From the oldest team member, HJS Chimi, to the youngest, Onkar Singh, we played cohesively as a family, and each of us shares a unique bond,” Singh remarked.
Mann also reminisced about the hockey victory. “We grew up hearing stories of the 1975 Hockey World Cup team and their remarkable performance against Pakistan in the final. It is a privilege for us to honor them during the 50th anniversary of that victory, and it is equally an honor for the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to host such legendary figures,” Mann stated.
