The Hindu : Sport : Asia Cup — a peep into the past

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Friday, Aug 24, 2007
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Asia Cup — a peep into the past

S. Thyagarajan

In the six editions till now, Pakistan has triumphed in three
India won once under the leadership of
Dhanraj Pillay

Chennai: With a little over a week left for the start of the seventh edition of the Asia Cup, it is time to take a walk down the memory lane to grasp the vicissitudes that facilitated the ebb and flow of the premier stage to test the continental hockey supremacy. The debate on who, India or Pakistan, mooted the idea is still inconclusive.

Though some Indian officials claim that the idea germinated in the councils of the Indian Hockey Federation as early as 1958, it was the enterprise and energy of the former Olympian and stalwart administrator of Pakistan, Brig. M.H. Atif that made the event a reality at Karachi in 1982.

Brig. Atif was fortunate to have the support of a visionary like, Air Marshal Khan to put the project into action during the heyday of Pakistan’s hockey history.

A total of seven countries, including China, were roped in for the inaugural edition, which Pakistan won with a measure of comfort against India. Interestingly, China picked up a bronze to catch the imagination of many observers.

Amidst gathering doubts whether the championship could be sustained to meet the norms of the International Federation (FIH), Bangladesh was persuaded to host the second chapter at Dhaka. As many as 10 countries, the highest until now, turned up for the competition, which became memorable for more than one reason.

The final between India and Pakistan before an unprecedented crowd at the National Stadium ended in pandemonium during which the Japanese umpire, Yubuta, was manhandled by a clutch of Indian players, for what they perceived as a debatable goal.

That India had to face the repercussions from the FIH for the action of a thoughtless few is a different story altogether. Only the diplomacy and the persuasive approach of then President of the IHF, Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy, not to speak of his personal rapport with the FIH President, Mr. Rene Frank, smothered the move to suspend India and impose sanctions for a period of two years.

Well established

By now, the event was well established as a major entity, outside the Asian Games. New Delhi picked up the baton in 1989, losing to Pakistan again amidst tension and excitement at the Shivaji Stadium. Four years later, Hiroshima, preparing for the 1994 Asian Games, staged the nine team edition, which saw Korea confirming its rising stature recording the first trophy triumph and repeating it next time in Kuala Lumpur in 1999.

Actually, it was Pakistan’s turn to host the event, but because of the security concerns raised by India, it was shifted to Kuala Lumpur, which hosted the event, and also the sixth edition in 2003 where India picked up the gold for the first time.

In the six editions till now, Pakistan has triumphed in three, Korea twice and India once under the leadership of Dhanraj Pillay. Pakistan, however, has the best record winning 28 of the 32 matches played with a goal aggregate of 194 against 31, followed by India with 24 wins in 33 matches totalling 145 goals against 36. South Korea, which has figured only in five championships, has notched up 96 goals against 48. As many as 13 countries from the region have figured in the competition. The new entrant this time is Chinese Taipei.

Top goal-scorers

Two Pakistani icons, Hassan Sardar in 1982 and Sohail Abbas in 1999, top the list of goal-scorers with 16 each, followed by Muhammad Naim (India in 1985) 12, Song Yi (China 2003) nine, Kamran Ashraff (Hiroshima in 1993) eight and Park Shin Heum (Korea in 1989) five.

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