National sport saves the day after disaster hits national passion
London: A clinical India demolished a hapless Pakistan 7-1 to register their third consecutive victory and seal a place in the quarterfinals of the Hockey World League Semifinal, here Sunday.
It was a face-saving act as the cricketers had been thrashed at the Oval which is approximately 10 kilometres from the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre where the game was played – national sports (hockey) had to come to the rescue of the pride of the nation after the disaster in national passion (cricket).
In the process, India registered their biggest ever margin of victory in hockey against their arch rivals and it was also sweet revenge for the humiliating defeat India had suffered at the 1982 Asiad. Pakistan then had won the game 7-1.
Drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh (13th minute, 33rd), Talwinder Singh (21st, 24th), Akashdeep Singh (47th, 59th) and Pradeep Mor (49th) scored for India while Pakistan’s consolation goal came from the stick of Muhammad Umar Bhutta (57th).
India are atop Pool B with three wins from as many games, just ahead of the Netherlands, who are placed second. Pakistan, on the other hand, are at the bottom of the pool after losing all three matches they have played so far.
Contrary to the result, it was Pakistan who made a bright start but their domination lasted only the first 10 minutes.
Pakistan had the first shot at the goal when they earned a penalty corner but the effort sailed over the bar.
As the match progressed, India started to control the proceedings with Pakistan playing a catch-up game. Harmanpreet gave India the lead, converting the side’s first penalty corner with a low grounded flick.
Talwinder doubled India’s lead soon after combining well with Satbir Singh and SV Sunil. It was classic goal keeping in mind the understanding the three showed. Minutes later, Talwinder scored his second goal of day when he neatly lifted over Pak custodian Amjad Ali a high ball from Satbir.
India continued in the same vein after the change of ends and three minutes into the second half Harmanpreet scored from another set piece to extend the lead. After Chinglensana Singh was brilliantly denied by Amjad, it was the turn of Akashdeep to score from the top of the circle after fine one-two with Sardar Singh. Two minutes later, Mor drilled home from a tight angle to beat Amjad Ali at the post.
Quotable quotes:
SV Sunil: I had been waiting for such a day. I was not born when we suffered the Asian Games defeat, but I had heard about it. It is always good to score seven goals against Pakistan
Harmanpreet Singh: As of now we do not fear any team in the world and we knew we could Pakistan if we executed the plans formulated by our coach Roelant Oltmans. We played counter-attacking hockey at its best
Manpreet Singh: This indeed is a memorable day for all the hockey players of India. As much as we play down the importance, any win against Pakistan is special. This is certainly a great day for Indian hockey
