The 24-year wait is over
As the whole of India rejoices Indian men’s hockey team’ entry into the Incheon Asian Games final after a hiatus of 12 years, one has to double, treble the time clock back to portray things in its true perspectives.
I waited for this day 24 years – to witness an India-Pak final in the Asian Games.
Last time they played was in Beijing 1990 though it was last league match of the robin format, meaning no knock-out matches.
In retrospect, that India-Pak final match was a turning point albeit short-lived, as the duo overcame Korean scare that put them in place four years ago in 1986 at Seoul, where for the first time in the annals of Asian Games either India or Pak was missing in the final.
For the first time Korea won the Gold at the cost of Pakistan while India, who lost to Pak in the semis, had to be content with a bronze. Its worth mentioning here that India drew Korea 1-1 in the league.
1990 therefore reaffirmed supremacy of the these two powers though it was down from global one. India comprehensively defeated Korea, though scoreline was just 2-0 in the league.
In 1990, even as my journalism was in nascent, none would have foreseen it would take another 24 years for a repeat of the titans’ clash.
Technically though Incheon marks first India-Pak final in 32 years, after Delhi’s ‘historic’ 1-7 verdict.
In 1994, novice Zafar Iqbal was the coach, when Korea knocked out Pakistan in the semis, robbing us of a Pak clash. Its first time in Asiad history, SK defeated India and Pak en route to the Gold.
In 1998, India won the gold under present coach MM Kaushik after Korea knocked out Pakistan in the semis.
Its India’s turn now to emerge victorious against Pakistan in 2002, thereby setting final clash with Korea.
2006 was the worst ever performance of India in Asiad, where it failed to be in the semis after losing to China and drawing Korea in the league, which ultimately reflected in India getting out of Beijing Olympics.
At 2010 in Guanghaou, their clash was billed but India dug its own grave in the semis, losing to Malaysia in the extra time golden goal, after defeating Pakistan in the league.
In short, in the last three decades Korea saw to it either Pak or India is knocked out in the semis and thus making the much-awaited India –Pak clash in the Asian Game a rarity.
Incheon now presents a rare opportunity, rare spectacle for the global hockey fans to witness the original superpower — for whom qualifying for the Olympics or World Cup has become a nightmare – fighting out for Gold on Thursday.
A vintage stuff is in the offing; old charm waiting to entice everyone.
Three decades is a big time in the sporting world, but an India and Pak clash, despite their low global rating, is the first rated ecstasy.