HYDERABAD (India) Oct 27: Gagan Ajit Singh scored twice as Asia Cup champion India beat arch rival Pakistan 4-2 on Monday and topped its preliminary group in the Afro-Asian Games field hockey event.

It was a repeat of last month’s Asia Cup final in Kuala Lumpur, where India defeated Pakistan 4-2.

Topping Pool B with nine points from three matches, India set up Wednesday’s semifinal encounter with Malaysia, which edged out South Africa on goal difference despite losing 2-1 to reigning Asian Games titlist South Korea in the last Pool A game.

Pakistan, which missed a penalty stroke before Singh’s late strike settled the outcome, placed second in the group with six points.

The Pakistanis will face South Korea in the semifinals, which became an all-Asian lineup after Malaysia clinched the last spot.

India surged into the lead in the 22nd minute when Ignace Tirkey’s reverse hit ballooned over onrushing goalkeeper Qasim Mohammad and Sandeep Michael knocked the ball into the goal.

Pakistan equalized in the 29th minute when an unmarked Salim Khalid picked up Mudassar Khan’s pass on top of the circle and slammed the ball into the boards.

Shakeel Abassi scored in the 32nd minute on skipper Mohammad Nadeem’s corner hit to give Pakistan a 2-1 lead at halftime.

India rallied strongly in the second half, forcing two penalty corners in three minutes, but Pakistan’s defense held firm.

Deepak Thakur restored parity for India in the 39th minute by deflecting in Michael’s free hit from the top of the scoring zone.

Three minutes later Singh sprinted down the right flank and capped his fine solo with a stinging reverse hit that beat Pakistan goalkeeper.

Pakistan missed a chance in the 62nd minute when Ali Raza’s penalty corner struck Tirkey’s foot on the goalline, resulting in a penalty stroke.

Ghazanfar Ali, however, failed to convert as his scoop rebounded off the crossbar.

A partisan home crown had already begun celebrating an Indian win when Singh capitalized on a brisk counterattack to slam in his second goal in the 67th minute.

Malaysia (7 goals for, 3 against) and South Africa (7 for, 4 against) were tied on four points in Pool A after the last league matches, with Malaysians getting second spot on goal difference.

South Korea took the lead through Jang Seon-lee’s penalty corner in the 34th minute, but Malaysia equalized in the 43rd from Jiwa Mohan. Woon Keon-yeo’s 50th-minute strike clinched the win.

South Africa closed with a 5-0 victory over Ghana, with Gareth Carr’s two goals the highlight.

Egypt defeated Nigeria 4-2 in a rough match, which featured six yellow cards. This was Egypt’s lone win in three matches.

Belal Ibrahim (12th minute), Sameh Metwaly (21st), Yasser el-Monem (23rd) and Walik Mostafa (67th) scored for Egypt, while Nigeria got its goals through Auwolu Lamido (15th) and Sunday Ogodogu (29th).—APP/AP