HYDERABAD, Oct 31: India defeated archrivals Pakistan 3-1 on Friday to win the hockey gold medal in the Afro-Asian Games.

Goals from Arjun Halappa, Len Aiyappa and Gagan Ajit Singh helped India to a third consecutive win over Pakistan, including last month’s Asia Cup final.

Pakistan pulled one goal back through Ghazanfar Ali’s lone conversion from nine penalty corners, but India’s breakaway moves shaped its victory.

India had the first shot at Pakistani goal in the fourth minute when Gagan Ajit Singh took a reflex shot off Halappa’s through ball from the top of the box, but the ball went wide to left.

India took the lead on Halappa’s penalty stroke conversion in the 7th minute. The stroke was awarded when Deepak Thakur shot struck defender Tariq Imran on the body. The ball rolled over the goalline, but Italian umpire Roberto Curti had blown for a stroke.

Pakistan replied to force two penalty corners and Ghazanfar secured it the equalizer on his second attempt, sending a drag flick into the cage in the 13th minute.

Indian midfielder Viren Rasquinha got a 10-minute suspension midway through the first period for a rough reverse tackle on Rehan Butt that stopped a Pakistani counter attack.

During Rasquinha’s absence, India missed two penalty corners before substitute Aiyappa’s drag flick went in off Pakistani ‘keeper Mohammad Qasim for a 2-1 lead.

Pakistan were pressing hard when Gagan Ajit Singh dribbled past two defenders after picking up a long clearance and scored with a stinging shot from the top of the circle.

Earlier, Asian Games champion South Korea defeated Malaysia 2-1 to claim the bronze medal.

Rasoli Muhamad’s flash strike in open play gave Malaysia the lead in the 42nd minute, but Sydney Olympic silver medalist South Korea rallied with a field goal from Hyo Sik-yoo (45th minute) and a penalty-corner strike by Kyung Seok-kim (52nd).

Gareth Carr’s golden goal, his second penalty corner strike of the match, helped South Africa to 3-2 win over Egypt in the playoff for the fifth place, avenging its defeat in the final of this month’s All-Africa Games.

Sameh Metwaly’s 13th-minute open field goal gave Egypt a 1-0 lead at halftime, which doubled on Belal Ibrahim’s flash strike a minute after the break.

The South Africans reduced the margin to one with a 60th-minute field goal by Steve Philips, but Egypt seemed on course to victory until Carr stepped up to slam in a penalty corner in the 69th minute and force extra time.

Carr settled the issue with another penalty corner goal in the eighth minute of extra-time.

Nigeria overcame Ghana 3-2 in the playoff to decide the seventh place.—APP/AP