The sport of field hockey was at its best at Delhi’s CWG with India and Pakistan dishing out a yet another heartwarming fare.
India won what both countries feel the Summit Clash convincingly at 7-4, thus majestically making it to the semi-final.
India will now take on England in the semis, while Australia will engage New Zealand in the other semifinal.
Eleven goals in 70 minutes each bringing its own charm and class, the full throttle crowd enjoyed every bit the sport offered, all the ingradients the hockey has to offer were on full display. Goals came through immaculate penalty conversions, freehit deflection, rebound collection, stroke conversion, every variety one asks for.
This match is absolutely a great advertisement for hockey in India if not for the rest of the world.
Sandeep Singh set the Dhyan Chand stadium turf on flame with a brace of goals within 11 minutes off penalty corners.
Indian forwardline found the much needed impetus from where it went on to build, at the half time India amassed in all four goals, other two goals coming through the sticks of Shivender Singh and Sarwanjit Singh.
Pakistan came out strongly with vigour, converted a stroke in the 27th minute and two minute later Md. Rizwan turned in a freehit to take the lemon time score at respectable 4-2.
Pakistan which played some wonderful hockey in the weak, showed the same form in the beginning of the second half, but Danish Mujatba, playing on his home ground, bounced on to a Imran Shaw deflection off Sandeep Singh’s penalty corner hit. This goal came against the run of play, and which changed the complextion of the game.
Thereafter, there was no doubt as to who would emerge winner. The formality was completed with goals from Dharmvir Sing (45th min) and Shivender Singh (59th min). Pakistan scored a brace in the 58th and 68th minutes through Irfan Mohd, and never-tiring Shakeel Abbasi, who scored a stylish goal on run after drawing otherwise alert Bharat Chetri in a close one to one situation.
1 Comment
It’s interesting to see that Hockey is attracting more fans in recent times. Now this is a right time to promote our National game in all ways we can. We should thank Hero Honda and SAIL for their efforts along with few like minded Personalities. We should arrange more games to develop the game in India as our Chief Coach said. Stick2hockey is the one taking solid efforts for this fantastic Game in media Sector. Thank you so much Sir.