India won the group B match after defeating Pakistan in the quarterfinal of the 16th Asian Games. This third consecutive 3-2 victory has led India
into semifinal. With the result of hattrick win over Pakistan, Indian hockey team is going to have no encounter with South Korea until final.
India availed the opportunity of making first goal off a penalty corner, in first three starting minutes, although soon this was equalized by Pakistani player
Rehan Butt. Sandeep Singh scored two goals against Pakistan and became star of the day, as this was his seventh goal of the tournament.
Dharamvir Singh ended with the third goal against Pakistan and crowned India with 3-2 victory. Over all this has been a close game, Indians carried the day by
availing the chances. Pakistani team was more like a defender than attacker. The main requirement to win the match was to keep attack and defense up.
India’s performance has been excellent in Asian Games so far, as it has earned nine points including Sunday’s last league match against Japan, who are level
with Pakistan with six points each. India beat Pakistan 4-1 at the World Cup in March, won 4-2 in the Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia in May and thrashed the opponent 7-4 at last month’s Commonwealth Games.
“Winning four times in a row does not matter, this is not a series,” said Indian captain Rajpal Singh. “What is more important for me is that we play well in
every match.
“Our strategy was simple. We had to attack from the start and not give Pakistan too many penalty corners.”
Pakistan’s lone penalty corner, in 58th minute could not dig up success as Indian goalkeeper Bharat Chetri jumped in the air to prevent Sohail Abbas’
stinging drag flick.
Captain of Pakistan’s hockey team Zeeshan Ashraf has not been satisfied with the umpiring, saying poor decisions throughout the match cost his team the match.
On the contrary umpire stated, “We should have got at least three or four more penalty corners. I don’t think there is any difference between the two teams.
It was a close game that could have gone either way. India also got only three scoring chances in the entire game, but they converted all.”
“It was an even game but India availed of their chances and that is what modern hockey is all about,” said Pakistan’s senior pro and record goal-scorer, Sohail
Abbas.
Pakistan’s Dutch coach Michel van den Heuvel, who watched the match from the stands, argued with the umpires and technical officials after the final whistle.
Zeeshan Ashraf denied the protest from the team and wanted his team to recover the defeat quickly for the preparation of upcoming tournaments.
He said; “The main thing is we are still in contention for the gold medal. We will bounce back.”
At the small Aoti Hockey center 1,000 fans were present to watch the match between India and Pakistan. The match created a thrill in the beginning as Sandeep
Singh scored the first goal, which was balanced by Pakistani hockey player Rehan Butt.
Paksitani hockey team, who once has been the winner of last seven Asian Games gold medals in Beijing in 1990, could not achieve a major title since, the World
Cup victory in Sydney in 1994.
India has been the victorious in past two encounters with its archive-rival Pakistan. India beat Pakistan in the World Cup and Common Wealth Games Semifinals.
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