Pool A : Pakistan, Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, New Zealand, Poland
Pool B : India, West Germany, Australia, England, Argentina, Ghana

India's Match Results :

• Kuala Lumpur had the honour of hosting the first World Cup to be held on Asian soil. India had to wait the following decade (1982 - Mumbai), and Pakistan the following decade (1990 - Lahore) to host their first and only World Cups.
  
  
• The organisation of the World Cup was a lesson to all national hockey associations. Everywhere one went in Malaysia, one was confronted by giant posters of the tournament. In Kuala Lumpur itself, there was a pair of lit up, crossed hockey sticks on top of the highest mast. The whole city was reminded of the World Cup every night. The Opening Ceremony rivalled Olympic grandeur, with Malaysia showcasing its cultures and traditions that hockey fans would come to know so well.
  
  
• In that March of 1975, Kuala Lumpur had very inconsistent weather. At one moment there would be humidity. while the next moment there would be thunder, lightning and rain. At one stage, the Bommahs had to be called to appease the weather gods and let the games go on.
  
  
• Defending champions Holland struggled throughout the competition. They went down to the Kiwis 1-2 in their opening match, drew 3-3 against formidable Pakistan, managed to win 3-0 against Spain, before losing yet again, to Poland, 1-2 to bow out of the World Cup. Holland had to remain content with Ties Kruize being the top goal scorer of the tournament with 7 goals, as he was in the previous World Cup. It was left for India and Pakistan to provide the fireworks.
  
  
• India beat England 2-1 in their opening match, with V. J. Philips scoring both goals off penalty strokes. India next drew 1-1 with Australia, with Govinda scoring a field goal in his inimitable style. India scored an easy 7-0 victory over Ghana. However, Argentina upset India 1-2, with Harcharan Singh scoring the sole goal for India. With a draw and a loss, the only option left for India was to beat Germany in their last pool match. Much to the delight of a 10,000-strong partisan crowd, India defeated Germany 3-1, with goals by Harcharan Singh, Mohinder Singh and V. J. Philips. The manager of the Indian team, Balbir Singh, now started to dream of the World Cup Trophy.
  
  
• Both India and Pakistan had topped their pools. In their semi-final match, Pakistan completely outclassed Germany 5-1. This was sweet revenge for Pakistan, for they had lost to Germany 0-1 in the 1972 Munich Olympics in the playoff for Gold, and again 0-1 to Germany in the 1973 World Cup at Amsterdam in the playoff for bronze.
  
  
• A capacity crowd of 40,000 turned up at Merdeka Stadium for the semi-final between India and Malaysia. It was interrupted due to torrential rain after just 7 minutes, and had to be carried over to 9 am the day before the final. With a capacity crowd egging them on, and with millions watching live on television, Malaysia led 2-1 well into the game. As time ticked away for India, and with only 8 minutes left in the game, Aslam Sher Khan came in as a substitute for Michael Kindo. These are the words of the then 22 year old Pathan from Bhopal:
  
  
• "I sat on the bench, sad and depressed; sad because India was losing, depressed because I was not playing. 8 minutes before the close, I was called in take the field. 3 minutes before the close, India was awarded a penalty corner. Captain Ajitpal Singh signalled me to take the hit. It was the last chance for India to equalize. Govinda pushed the ball, Ajitpal stopped perfectly. Seeing goalkeeper Zainuddin move to his left, I banged the ball to the right. Zainuddin was caught on the wrong foot, and it was a goal!"
  
  
• Ashok Kumar, son of the 1936 Olympian Dhyan Chand, brought about the penalty corner for India. Aslam Sher Khan, son of the 1936 Olympian Ahmed Sher Khan, sent the ball in for the goal. It was 2-2 at the end of regulation.
  
  
• In the third minute of extra-time, V. J. Philips sprinted down the right flank and sent in a sizzling cross to Harcharan, who made no mistake. The game was over for the spirited Malaysians, and India took her place in the final to play traditional rivals Pakistan. In India, in every government office, in each restaurant, in every cinema hall, in every other meeting place, the Indo-Pak final became a talking point. Pakistan had beaten India in the 1971 World Cup, but lost to India in the 1973 World Cup. Whose turn would it be in this third meeting of the Asian giants in the World Cup.
  
  
• First Pakistan took the lead through inside-right Zahid who scored a field goal after Islahuddin did the spadework going down the right flank. The burly Indian full back Surjeet Singh equalised off a penalty corner in the 25th minute. Then came the controversial goal that sealed the fate of Pakistan. After a melee in the striking circle, master dribbler Ashok Kumar put the ball in the goal. The Malaysian referee Galasingham Vijayanathan was in two minds, whether to award a penalty corner or a goal, and finally pointed to the centre spot. India held on to win 2-1.
  
  
• For the first time since 1964, India had won a world title. India has beaten Pakistan for only the 5th time in 15 attempts. They had scored two goals against Pakistan for the first time. Millions of fans followed the dramatic final on Akashvani. Even Doordarshan showed the final later, on tape-delay. India's victory in the World Cup was celebrated with great joy and parades of the team in different parts of the country. Hockey in India got a whole generation of young fans by that one world title.
  
  
• The 1975 World Cup was also a triumph for Asian Hockey. 3 of the 4 semi-finalists were Asian, both the finalists were Asian. In no other World Cup was this feat repeated.

Final Standings :

Indian Team :

Ajitpal Singh (captain), Leslie Fernandes, Ashok Dewan,  Michael Kindo, Surjeet Singh, Aslam Sher Khan, Virender Singh, Onkar Singh, Mohinder Singh, V. J. Philips, Harcharan Singh, Shivaji Pawar, Ashok Kumar, B. P. Govinda, H. J. S. Chimni, B. P. Kalaiah;

Coach : Gurcharan Singh Bodhi; Manager : Balbir Singh Sr.