C’Wealth Games: Spectacular Sunday for Indian hockey team
Just how does India manage this? Every time the team plays Pakistan, it showcases the energy, aggression, composure and the killer instinct that it lacks in every other match.
On Sunday, one was left wondering about the same yet again. But even before the match began, one could sense it would be a classic.
After all, two historic rivals were up against each other, a Commonwealth Games semifinal berth was at stake and the home team was carrying the hopes of a billion.
To make it a case of icing on the cake, the hosts won 7-4 to book their semifinal berth. It wasn’t just the impressive scoreline, the manner in which Rajpal’s men battered a hapless Pakistan side warmed the cockles of the fans’ hearts.
What transpired in the 70 minutes of play will be etched in the memories of the hockey fans for a long time. It was India at its vintage best, reviving memories of that February night when they had thrashed Pakistan 4-1 in a World Cup group stage encounter. Even Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul cheered from the general stands. Talk about pressure, sports and politics.
So captivating was India’s performance that even the star politicians failed to get the crowd’s attention. India played some of the best hockey it has in recent times, on par of the famous battle between the two sides in Holland, in 2003, which India had won 7-4. It was Jugraj Singh’s brilliance then.
Last night, it was another Singh who held sway over the proceedings — Sandeep.
The drag-flicker, who was not utilised much in the previous encounters, set the tone for the game, scoring two trademark goals from penalty corners. But the way he set up the third had a touch of the Australian/European style of play, which coach Jose Brasa has been working on since he took charge. Sandeep slapped the ball from around 35 yards into the Pakistan ‘D’, piercing the defence’s heart to find an unmarked Shivendra Singh, who smartly tapped the ball home.
If Pakistan were flustered in the first 10 minutes, they were left scratching their heads over the way India scored the third. Before the Pakistanis could settle down in their positions after the restart, Sarvanjit Singh scored the fourth. The match, now, was India’s to lose.
And they did give everyone a fright. Up by four, India relaxed, slowed down the pace -and that allowed Pakistan to claw their way back into the game. They scored two in quick succession to go into the half-time with hopes still alive of making a comeback.
India looked more composed in the second, scoring two more by the 45th minute to go up 6-2. Pakistan did pull one back, but the seventh goal in the 59th minute ensured India three points and a last-four position.
India will now play England in the semifinal on Tuesday, knowing they cannot afford to be complacent following this win. “We have to focus. But today, we should party. Indian hockey fans deserve this win. Today, my boys have played some of the best hockey in a long time. It’s time to rejoice,” a smiling Brasa said. The celebrations, surely, will last long.
Result: India 7 (S Singh 3, 11, S Singh 19, 59, S Singh 20, D Mujtaba 41, D Singh 45) Pakistan 4 (M Imran 27, M Rizwan 29, M Irfan 58, S Abbasi 68)
Semifinal line-up
Australia vs New Zealand; India vs England (Both matches on Tuesday)