India booked their spot in the Final of Asia Cup 2017 with a convincing 4-0 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the Super 4s match at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium on Saturday, Asian Hockey Federation reported.

Goals from Satbir Singh (39′), Harmanpreet Singh (51′), Lalit Upadhyay (52′) and Gurjant Singh (57′) ensured the top spot in Super 4s for India.

This was the second match between the two sides in the Asia Cup 2017 as they have already faced each other in the Pool stage where India came out on top with a 3-1 victory.

Pakistan started the match on the attack as they won three penalty corners inside the first quarter but could not convert any as the Indian defence was up to the task.

The second quarter saw both the teams battle it out in the midfield as they looked to establish their authority in the match.

The third quarter finally saw India penetrate Pakistan’s circle as their team-work led to a great goal in the 39th minute when forward Satbir Singh made a darting run on the right flank and passed the ball towards the Pakistan goal which made its way inside the goal as the Pakistani defence failed to intercept it.

India started the fourth quarter aggressively as Varun Kumar missed a chance to score when Gurjant Singh found him in the circle with a calculated pass in the 46th minute. India won two successive penalty corners in the 48th and 49th minute, both of which were saved by

Pakistan’s Amjad Ali with some heroic saves to deny the Indians.

Opinion

Editorial

Exit strategy
Updated 18 Mar, 2026

Exit strategy

MOST members of the international community, particularly states in the greater Middle East, are gravely concerned...
Unsafe trains
18 Mar, 2026

Unsafe trains

SUNDAY’S accident involving the Shalimar Express has once again brought into sharp focus the deep structural and...
Disappointment in Dhaka
18 Mar, 2026

Disappointment in Dhaka

FOR a side looking for lift-off after a disappointing T20 World Cup, it was despair for Shaheen Shah Afridi’s ...
Missing in action
17 Mar, 2026

Missing in action

NOT exactly known for playing a proactive role in protecting the interests of Muslim nations and populations...
Risk to stability
Updated 17 Mar, 2026

Risk to stability

THE risks to Pakistan’s fragile economic recovery from the US-Israel war on Iran cannot be dismissed. Yet the...
Enrolment push
17 Mar, 2026

Enrolment push

THE federal government has embarked upon the welcome initiative to enrol 25,000 out-of-school children in Islamabad...