HYDERABAD, Oct 23: It is an Inter-continental show but the focus is on the showdown between traditional rivals, India and Pakistan, which face each other on Oct 27, as hockey matches commenced on Thursday in inaugural edition of Afro-Asian Games at Gachibowli hockey complex in Hyderabad.

An India-Pakistan duel on Indian soil, after a gap of four years, should only heighten the tension amidst high expectation. This, despite presence of Korea, Busan Asian Games gold medallist, Egypt and dangerous Malaysians in fray to name the other big teams.

Pakistan, India, Egypt and Nigeria (last minute replacement for Zimbabwe) figure in Pool ‘B’. In contrast, Koreans have Ghana, Malaysia and South Africa in Pool ‘A’.

Fresh from Asia Cup victory, Indian coach Rajinder Singh is keen to sustain the form and is confident India will put up a quality performance here.

He only hopes players are able to adjust to the new turf, which experts feel is slightly bumpy and very quick, since no matches were played on it at all.

On present form, Pakistan and India should book top two berths from Pool ‘B’ unless Egypt pulls off a miracle.

Captain Dilip Tirkey dismissed the pressure factor and said India-Pakistan match would be just another encounter which his team would love to win.

With his touch of assurance in the deep, Tirkey is confident forward-line of Gagan, Deepak Thakur, Prabhjot Singh, Sandeep Michael and Arjun Hallapa would have the liberty to attack and create openings.—PPI