Monitoring Desk
Hangzhou, China: The Indian hockey team registered a famous 10-2 win over arch-rivals Pakistan in the group stage at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on Saturday.
According to details, in an electrifying showdown, the Indian hockey team displayed its prowess by defeating Pakistan 10-2.
The victory propelled the Indian hockey team into the semifinals of the Asian Games, where they stand as formidable contenders. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s path to the semifinals hinges on a decisive clash with Japan, scheduled for October 2.
The game showcased the stark contrast in rankings between the two teams. India, ranked third in the world, asserted their dominance by swiftly notching up two goals in the first quarter. Mandeep Singh secured the first field goal for India in the 8th minute, propelling his team into the lead. The 11th and 17th minutes witnessed Harmanpreet Singh extending India’s advantage with remarkable penalty corner goals.
Sumeet added to India’s tally with a fourth goal in the 30th minute. The third quarter saw Harmanpreet Singh shining again with goals for India through penalty corners in the 33rd and 34th minutes. Pakistan managed to put their mark on the scoreboard with a goal from Muhammad Sufyan Khan in the 38th minute via a penalty corner. Varun Kumar later secured a field goal for India in the 41st minute.
Pakistan demonstrated resilience as Rana Abdul Waheed netted their second goal in the 45th minute, courtesy of a penalty corner. However, India remained relentless as Shamsher Singh contributed an eighth goal in the 46th minute, further consolidating their lead. Lalit Kumar, representing India, added to Pakistan’s woes with a field goal in the 49th minute. In the 54th minute, Varun Kumar sealed India’s dominance with another goal through a penalty corner.
Pakistan’s hockey team is now set to face Japan in their fifth and final pool match on October 2, at 15:30 PM Pakistan time. The outcome of this clash will determine their fate in the tournament.
The Asian Games hockey competition features a total of 12 teams, divided into two pools. Pool A comprises India, Japan, Bangladesh, Singapore, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan, while Pool B includes Korea, Malaysia, China, Oman, Thailand, and Indonesia. The competition promises more exhilarating encounters as teams vie for the coveted Asian Games title.
