On Saturday, India won the Men’s Hockey 5s Asia Cup, defeating archrivals Pakistan 2-0 in a shootout after both teams were tied 4-4 in regulation time.
With the victory, India has secured a berth in the FIH Men’s Hockey5s World Cup 2024.
During regulation time, Mohammed Raheel (19th and 26th), Jugraj Singh (7th), and Maninder Singh (10th) scored for India, while Gurjot Singh and Maninder Singh beat the goalkeeper in the shootout.
Pakistan’s top scorers were Abdul Rehman (5th), skipper Abdul Rana (13th), Zikriya Hayat (14th), and Arshad Liaqat (19th).
Suraj Karkera, the Indian goalkeeper, made numerous crucial stops before Pakistan broke the deadlock in the fifth minute through Rehman.
Jugraj Singh equalized for India just a few minutes later. Maninder Singh’s reverse hit from a distance gave India the lead.
Nonetheless, Pakistan responded immediately and regained the lead thanks to skipper Abdul Rana (13th) and Zikriya Hayat (14th).
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The Men in Blue began to play a possession-based approach and pressed deeper, only for Pakistan to double its advantage in the 19th minute thanks to Arshad Liaqat.
At the same moment that Mohammed Raheel got one back for India, the Indians upped the ante and began attacking from all angles.
Mohammed Raheel took a long pass in the 26th minute and dribbled through Pakistan’s under-pressure defense, striking the ball home to tie the game again.
Both teams failed to score a winner, and the game was decided in a shootout, with Gurjot Singh and Maninder Singh scoring for India.
Arshad Liaqat and Muhammad Murtaza failed to convert for Pakistan, allowing the Men in Blue to win the title.
Following the victory, Hockey India awarded a monetary prize of 2 lakh for the players and 1 lakh for each support staff member.
