India Dominates Pakistan with a 7-1 Victory in FIH Pro League
India's Stellar Performance Against Pakistan
Photo: @India_AllSports/X
London, June 27: In an impressive display, the Indian hockey team, which boasts an Olympic bronze medal, overcame an early setback to demolish their rivals Pakistan with a staggering 7-1 scoreline during the FIH Pro League at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centres on Friday.
Just two days after a narrow 4-3 victory in their first encounter against Pakistan in London, India showcased their dominance by controlling the second and third quarters, scoring consistently and securing a decisive win in their penultimate match of the 2025-26 tournament season.
Goals from Sukhjeet Singh (19th minute), Harmanpreet Singh (26th), Hardik (34th-penalty stroke), Jugraj Singh (35th), Abhishek (41st), Raj Kumar Pal (43rd), and Dilpreet Singh (53rd) followed an initial lead by Abu Mahmood of Pakistan, who scored in the 13th minute from a penalty corner.
This victory not only extended India's impressive record against Pakistan but also marked their 17th consecutive win over them across all competitions.
With this triumph, India climbed to 7th place in the standings, surpassing Spain with 17 points from 15 matches, while Spain, who lost to Argentina in a shootout, sits at 16 points. Pakistan remains at the bottom with no points from 15 matches.
India dominated the match, achieving 36 circle penetrations and earning 13 penalty corners, converting three. In contrast, Pakistan managed 18 circle penetrations but failed to score any field goals, converting just one of their six penalty corners.
Hardik Singh and Manpreet Singh effectively controlled the midfield for India, while forwards Abhishek, Dilpreet Singh, and Mandeep Singh consistently challenged the Pakistani defense. Hardik was named the FIH Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.
Pakistan initially took the lead in the 13th minute through Abu Mahmood's penalty corner conversion. Despite creating several opportunities and earning three penalty corners in the first quarter, India struggled to find the net. However, Sukhjeet Singh equalized in the 19th minute, and Harmanpreet Singh put India ahead in the 25th minute with another penalty corner conversion, making it 2-1.
India seized control in the second quarter, utilizing precise long passes to exploit gaps in the Pakistani defense. A setback for Pakistan occurred in the 18th minute when a deflected pass struck teammate Ahmad Nadeem, forcing him to leave the field.
Capitalizing on the momentum, India earned a penalty corner shortly after, with Harmanpreet's powerful dragflick being deftly deflected by Sukhjeet to equalize at 1-1. In the 26th minute, Harmanpreet scored again from a penalty corner, giving India a 2-1 lead at halftime.
In the second half, India continued to dominate. In the 34th minute, they earned consecutive penalty corners, with Hardik converting a penalty stroke to extend the lead to 3-1. Pakistan attempted to respond with two penalty corners, but the Indian defense held firm. Following a successful block, India launched a counter-attack, leading to Jugraj's goal in the 35th minute, making it 4-1.
India's relentless offense continued, with Sukhjeet assisting Abhishek for a goal in the 41st minute, bringing the score to 5-1. Late in the third quarter, India earned four consecutive penalty corners, with Raj Kumar Pal reacting quickly to a rebound from Harmanpreet's dragflick to score in the 44th minute, extending the lead to 6-1.
In the final quarter, India maintained their defensive discipline while seeking more goals. Dilpreet capped off a brilliant team move with India's seventh goal in the 54th minute. Pakistan earned two late penalty corners, but veteran Manpreet Singh effectively blocked both attempts, securing a comprehensive 7-1 victory for India.