India down Pakistan in prestigious match
Sports Reporter
Favouites India finished their pool phase with all-win record when they mauled its arch-foes Pakistan by 3-1 in their action-packed third and last Pool-A fixture of the Hero Asia Cup Hockey at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium in Dhaka yesterday.
Currently, India, who are sixth in World Hockey ranking, had confronted Pakistan three times in Dhaka. Of them, India tasted their first win against its arch-rival here in Bangladesh. But Pakistan won other two times including 3-1 in Asia Cup in 1985 and on tri-breaker in South Asian Games in 2010.
The Singhs had their day under the floodlight-Chinglensana Kangujam, Ramandeep Singh and Harmanpreet Singh scoring one goal each for the Blueshirts, while Ali Shan struck the consolation for the Greenshirts.
Indo-Pak duel whether it is cricket or football or hockey or other sports is full of not just extra excitement and drama but also frayed tempers. Yesterdays match was not exceptional one.
Both India and Pakistan have waged their attack with short and well-composed pass and attempted to enter each other arc but neither of the teams could take the lead breaking the stalemate of the action-filled first quarter.
After the short breather, it was India, who did not wait for the longer period as they took the lead first on the seventeen minute when the onrushing Chinglensana Kangujam entered into the Pakistan D-box after receiving a long pass from Sunil Sowmarpret while Pakistan was on attacking. Kangujam dodged past a Pakistani defender and rifled the team home.
Pakistan desperately tried to equalise the advantage with attack and counter-attack and that they had got opportunities at the time of the second quarter but they could not capitalise any of them because of their poor finish.
In the third quarter, India showcased their grit further to extend their advantage and succeeded in their approach as they chalked up two goals in the space of the two minutes.
Even though eight-time Olympic champions team played Asia Cup final for the most times out of the nine occasions, they lifted the Asia Cup title one time. This time they stretched their margin further when unmarked Ramandeep Singh brilliantly netted the goal from the right flank with solo effort after claiming the neat long pass from the mid-field following the failure of their first penalty corner.
In the dying minute of the third quarter, Harmanpreet Singh scored their last goal when he pushed strongly from their second penalty corner befooling Pakistans custodian Mazhar Abbas.
Finally Ali Shans reverse hit reached Indias net that was consolation for Pakistan, whose present form as potential force in hockey has been decreased.
Its learnt that the AHF sent the invitational letter to Indian veteran hockey player Dhanraj Pillay along with Pakistan legendary hockey player Shahbaj Khan, dubbed Maradona of Hockey, to enjoy the Asia Cup in Bangladesh. But Pillay will not come due to his personal busyness. Another Pakistan legend Hasan Sardar arrived in Dhaka in place of Shahhbaj.
