India Triumphs Over Pakistan in Thrilling Asian Games Hockey Semi-Final
PT Usha Celebrates a Memorable Victory
The president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), PT Usha, praised the Indian men's hockey team for their remarkable performance against Pakistan in the Asian Games semifinals held on Thursday. The defending champions secured a thrilling 4-3 victory, advancing to the finals of the men's hockey event at the 2026 Asian Games.
PT Usha Hails 'Unforgettable' Victory
In a post on X, Usha expressed that her "heart raced alongside every Indian fan in the stands," describing the match as an "unforgettable experience." She congratulated Captain Harmanpreet Singh for setting the pace early and commended Abhishek for his spectacular last-minute goal. "To bounce back and win a high-pressure semifinal like this showcases the elite mentality of this team. The march to the Gold continues. Onwards and upwards, boys!" she added.
Exciting Semi-Final: A Minute-by-Minute Breakdown
India's Strong Start
India took control early, establishing a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored two penalty corners with powerful dragflicks. Pakistan began aggressively, earning their first shot on target in the third minute, but goalkeeper Suraj Karkera made a crucial save. India earned their first penalty corner in the fourth minute, and Harmanpreet opened the scoring in the fifth minute by slipping the ball through Ali Reza's legs. He doubled the lead in the 13th minute with another powerful dragflick from a penalty corner, sending the ball low past the defenders. Although Pakistan earned several penalty corners towards the end of the first quarter, India maintained their lead.
Continuing their dominance in the second quarter, India extended their lead to 3-0 in the 24th minute when Shilanand made a run and passed to Sukhjeet Singh, who deflected it into the goal.
Pakistan's Resilient Comeback
Pakistan managed to score in the 29th minute when Abu Baker's dragflick deflected off Mohith and rolled into the net, reducing India's lead to 3-1 at halftime. India controlled the third quarter but failed to score again. However, Pakistan capitalized on a green card shown to Dilpreet Singh in the 44th minute, with Hannan Shahid scoring to bring the score to 3-2. In the fourth quarter, Waheed Rana equalized for Pakistan in the 49th minute, making it 3-3.
Dramatic Final Moments
With the match tied, both teams sought the winning goal. Pakistan earned a penalty corner in the 54th minute, but Sufiyan's dragflick was blocked by Amit Rohidas. India had a penalty corner with about 90 seconds left, but the decision was overturned after a successful review by Pakistan, resulting in a free hit for India. The decisive moment came with just 50 seconds remaining when Abhishek's shot was initially saved, but the rebound led to a goal as the ball deflected off a Pakistan stick, sealing the match at 4-3. Pakistan could not equalize again, allowing India to secure their place in the men's hockey final at the Asian Games.