K ARUMUGAM

Traditional rivals India and Pak – both with all win record here – will clash today in what can be categorized as a prestigious fight. India’s morale is up here with the stupendous stuff they dished out the other day against the defending champions Japan (4-2). Where as, despite being the most inexperienced here among the past Asian Games medallist teams (India, Mal, Japan, South Korea), Pakistan can be proud of three wins they put up here, scoring as many as 34 goals while conceding, much like India, a mere 3.

On form India is the favourites, having won every outing since 2014, exception being South Asian Games where India chose to send a C team.  The recent victory for India was at Chennai where in the Asian Champions Trophy, they were made to eat a humble pie by the hosts (0-4).

Craig Fulton, despite being disappointed that his team lowered the guard against Japan in the last 5, 6 minutes, can look forward to the contest with optimism.

However, India should remind themselves of the fact that it had to draw at least a couple of times in the recent past, despite being far superior in the FIH rankings than their opponents, like in the 2022 Hero Asia Cup etc,

This match is looked upon as the most popular one here despite Pakistan has been on defence over India over a decade. For, sometimes numbers and history don’t work out! Like Japan in Jakarta.

India with a collective cap (2390), almost five times more than Pakistan’s (522) will look forward to the match with optimism while Pakistan, far less inexperienced than their rival hope to see a upset.

India has as many as nine from last Asian Games in the team while Pakistan has just one – captain Umar Bhutta. Pak however brought all but two from the Chennai team while dropped three.

India is well set in all departments, with three equally talented penalty corner experts in Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar and Amit Rohidas. Pakistan is on experimentation here though Arbaxz Ahmad has been successful against Asian weakies.

Having defeated defending champions Japan, India is sure of topping the pool and will be in a relaxed mind when takes on Pakistan who has to meet two biggies in the pool India now and Japan later. Whatever happens today, Pakistan-Japan tie billed on Monday will be the decider as to who will leave Hangzhou without entering semis.

They can also look with pride their past feat. Pakistan have won India 8 times in the annals of Asian Games while India could beat them only four times.

INDIA-PAKISTAN OVER ALL STAT

PLAYED: 179

INDIA WON: 65

DRAW: 32

INDIA GOALS: 367

Last win for India: ACT 2023 4-0

India-Pak at Asian Games

Played: 15

India won: 4

Draw: 3

India goals: 17

Pak goals: 29