HYDERABAD (India) Nov 1: Pakistan’s hockey manager Hasan Sardar has said “umpiring was not up to the mark” in Afro-Asian Games men’s hockey final between arch-rivals Pakistan and India Friday at Hyderabad.

“Though I agree that our boys missed chances galore, the umpiring took away some of our chances,” said the hockey great Hassan Sardar.

“The umpiring in this tournament has not been up to the mark. It’s not only us who feel so, almost everyone does,”Sardar said.

What about strategy? “Of course we came into the field with a plan but it did not work. The Indians are a good side. Definitely, one should not take away credit,” he stated.

Indian striker Gagan Ajit Singh who scored in 60th minute, later said “They (Pakistanis) were getting rough in the defence. They tried everything but were unsuccessful.”

Indian coach Rajinder Singh was “happy and satisfied with his team’s performance” against arch-rivals in the final.—PPI