Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Kuantan (Malaysia), The Indian men’s hockey team gave the nation a “Diwali gift” as it beat arch rivals Pakistan to reclaim the Asian Champions Trophy on a super Sunday, which also saw the women’s team beat Korea 2-1 in the women’s ACT in Singapore.
India beat the two-time defending champions 3-2 on Sunday. The thrilling final saw India running away to a two-goal lead in the second quarter, Pakistan fighting back in the third quarter, India stealing a late winner and then very smartly running out the clock in the final minutes to hold on and cap off an eventful year with a title win. In fact, it was India’s first title of the year. Goals from Rupinder Pal Singh (18th minute), Affan Yousuf (23rd) and Nikkin Thimmaiah (51st) helped India dethrone Pakistan, who rallied from behind to push India close through strikes from Muhammad Aleem Bilal (26th) and Ali Shaan (38th).
India’s most experienced player, Sardar Singh, played a pivotal role in the semifinal and final victories. Sardar, who was awarded the best player in the final for marshalling the midfield and playing a big role in two Indian goals, said: “This trophy is the hockey team’s Diwali gift to the nation. We reclaimed the Asian Champions Trophy by repeating our victory over Pakistan in the Asian Games final two years ago.”
India played the final without skipper and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who was ruled out due to a hamstring injury suffered during the semifinal against South Korea. Sreejesh said he could feel the emotions of the players sitting on the sidelines.
“An India-Pakistan match is always special and this is a special victory,” said Sreejesh.
Despite it not being a convincing performance in the final, the title win is a good achievement for the Indian team, which was without a few of its senior players.
It is not only a repeat of their victory over Pakistan in the 2014 Asian Games final but also of the one in the final of the inaugural edition of the ACT in 2011, when an inexperienced and experimental side had upset Pakistan.
‘Losing not an option’
Unlike in 2011, India were under much more pressure to win back the title, which they had lost to Pakistan in 2012.
Sardar said that being the continental champions and the highest-ranked team put the team under pressure going into the tournament.
India coach Roelant Oltmans, who heaped praise on his boys, said that losing was not an option for the team. “For the Indian players, there was no option other than winning the title here. We went in as the favourites and were the target of other teams, who faced no such pressure,” said Oltmans, adding that he had seen 20 India-Pakistan matches as a coach and knew the excitement of the sub-continental encounters.
“I’m really proud that the team showed its mental strength in the last quarter to clinch victory after having conceded two goals and allowing the opposition to come back into the contest.”
Oltmans said it was time for the team to set its sights on bigger global titles. “For India’s hockey fans this is a major title win, but we have to go on and win bigger global events,” he added.
