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| October 31, 2003 | Friday | Ramazan 4, 1424 |
Pakistan’s chance to avenge pool defeat
HYDERABAD, Oct 30: A sumptuous and steaming potboiler is in the offing as a determined India take on arch-rivals Pakistan in the summit clash for the men’s hockey gold at first Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad on Friday.
This will be their second meeting in the Games here and eighth this year. They clashed in pool fixture on Oct 27 when Asian champions, India, outwitted the neighbours 4-2.
The hosts have won four of the previous seven outings with Pakistan victorious in two. Incidentally, last three fixtures between the traditional rivals have ended in similar score lines, twice in favour of Indians.
Pakistan, four-time world and three-time Olympic champions, overcame a resilient South Korea 2-0, while India huffed and puffed to eventually overcome Malaysian challenge in the tie-break 6-4 in the semifinals.
Indian performance against Malaysia was below par in comparison to their earlier showing here. Their attacks were aborted by the alert marking and interceptions by their rivals.
Pakistanis, who have brought along a specialist Italian video recordist, would have analysed how Malaysians blunted Indian onslaughts in their team meeting.
“We have to win to set the record even this year,” said Pakistan coach Tahir Zaman.
Interestingly, apart from their first two meetings this year in Australia, the clashes at Amstelveen during Champions Trophy in September and at Kuala Lumpur Asia Cup last month ended on an even note — each winning one game.—PPI
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