Hockey: India down Pakistan to clinch Asian Games title

KARACHI: Defending champions Pakistan will have to settle for silver after they lost to India 4-2 on penalties. The match had ended 1-1 in normal time.

Pakistan were the tournament’s only unbeaten team going into the final and were high on confidence after having defeated India in the group stages.

True to their form, the Greenshirts were off to a flyer after Muhammad Rizwan senior put Pakistan ahead in the third minute. However, India was able to level the score in the second quarter, with a 27th-minute goal by Kothajit Singh Khadangbam.

Neither side were able to break the deadlock again and penalties were required to decide the final. Despite having won the semi-finals 6-5 on penalties, the Pakistani penalty takers seemed to lack composure as they allowed Indian goalkeeper Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran to save two out of the four penalties. India, however, managed to convert four of their five to win 4-2 on penalties and claim gold.

Meanwhile, South Korea have defeated Malaysia 3-2 in the third-place hockey match.