PERTH, Nov 24: India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 5-2 in an inconsequential round-robin match to register their first win at the International Super Series hockey tournament here on Saturday.
India were by far the dominant side on display in the battle between the two sub-continental giants in the nine-a-side format of the game, better known as Hockey 9s.
India pumped in three goals in the first half and two after the break from the sticks of V.R. Raghunath (7th minute), S.V. Sunil (9th, 33rd), Akashdeep Singh (15th) and Manpreet Singh (29th).
Pakistan, on the other hand, scored a goal in each half through Shafqat Rasool and Mohammad Rizwan Sr.
The two sides clash again on Sunday in the third-fourth place play-off match while Australia face Great Britain in the final.—Agencies