Returning to their best after a slow start, defending champions India will look to continue their cautious experiment against arch-rivals Pakistan in the third round robin match of the Asian Champions Trophy men’s hockey tournament here on Friday. Olympic bronze-medallist India did not have the best start in the tournament, their first since the historic Tokyo campaign, as Korea scored two goals in their tournament opening match to beat the Manpreet Singh-led side 2–2. Shocked by Korea, Indians on Wednesday made a completely different team and defeated the hosts 9-0 in a one-sided encounter against Bangladesh.
Striker Dilpreet Singh hit a hat-trick of field goals while Jarmanpreet Singh found the net twice off the set piece as Graham Reid-Coach experimented with his penalty corners, trying variations instead of straight flicks from vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh and Varun Of. Youth.
It was an absolutely dominant performance from the Indians in all aspects of the game against Bangladesh and the holders would like to continue in the same sequence against Pakistan on Friday.
The Indian defense is led by Harmanpreet, while the captain holds the key to the middle zone.
Lalit Upadhyay has scored three goals in two matches so far in the tournament, while comeback Akashdeep Singh, who missed out on a berth in the Tokyo Olympic squad, also made his name on the score-sheet. Wednesday.
Having said that, the Indians can’t afford to rest Friday, especially against Pakistan, which boasts of a rich hockey history, though the game has been on the decline in that country recently.
Pakistan has won three gold, three silver and two bronze medals in the Olympics and the country will be keen to find its footing in world hockey, especially after failing to qualify for the Tokyo Games.
India and Pakistan were declared joint winners after the finals were washed out in the last edition of the ACT in Muscat in 2018.
Going by the previous record, Pakistan certainly holds the lead, but in form India will certainly start Friday as the favourites.
India and Pakistan have faced each other in a record first seven Asian Games hockey finals. They have played a total of nine finals against each other with Pakistan winning seven and India winning two golds.
The two countries have played each other in three consecutive Olympic hockey finals from 1956 to 1964. India won gold twice while Pakistan won gold once.
The last time the two neighbors played each other was in 2018 when India beat their neighbors 3-1 in the league stage of the ACT.
Friday’s win will confirm India’s place in the semi-finals of the five-nation tournament. Malaysia was the sixth country but withdrew at the last minute due to issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
India are currently at the top with four points, while Pakistan are fourth after a goalless draw against Japan.
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