Eight-time champion, Pakistan take on arch rivals India in the final of the Men’s Hockey event of the 17th Asian Games at Seonhak Hockey Stadium, Incheon today.
The winners of final match would qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janerio Olympics.
India, seeking their first Asian Games title since 1998, played a spirited game to outlast hosts South Korea 1-0 in the semi final, with Akashdeep Singh scoring the winner in the 44th minute from a narrow angle. Defending champions Pakistan were held to a 0-0 draw by 2010 finalists Malaysia before winning a thrilling penalty shoot-out 6-5.
Pakistan qualified for the final for the ninth time while it is India’ 10th entry to the final. There was no final matches in the 1958 Toyko Asian Games and 1990 Beijing Asian Games where Pakistan have won gold medals by finishing top in the round robin league.
It will be 14th match between the two teams in Asian Games and 160th international match between the two teams. Pakistan have a good record against India in Asian games as well as in international matches. They have won eight, drew two and lost just three matches in 13 matches played against India in Asian Games. Pakistan scored 27 goals and conceded 14 in these matches. India’s first victory against Pakistan in Asian Games came in the 1966 Asian Games at Bangkok. India defeated Pakistan by 1-0 in the final while 4-3 win at Busan in the semi final in 2002 was the second. India’s third win over Pakistan in Asian Games came four years ago at Guangzhou. They beat Pakistan 3-2 in the league match.
Pakistan have won 79, lost 42 in 159 international matches played between the two teams. The ramaining 28 matches could not produce a result. They scored 373 goals and conceded 306 goals in these matches.
Pakistan defeated India 2-1 when two teams met in the league match in this Asian Games on September 25.
The last international match between the two teams was played at Kakamigahara Asian Champions Trophy in 2013.Pakistan defeated India 5-4 in this match.
The Sardar Singh-led Indian side who are ninth in the rankings, is hoping to end a 16-year gold medal drought at the Asian Games. The last time India won gold at the Asiad was in 1998, at the Bangkok Games, under Dhanraj Pillay’s captaincy. Pakistan led by Mohammed Imran is ranked 11 in the world. India face Pakistan in Asiad hockey final after 32 years. They had last played in the men’s hockey final at the quadrennial continental games way back in 1982 at New Delhi’s Dhyan Chand Stadium when the latter emerged with a shock 7-1 verdict after which the then goalkeeper Mir Ranjan Negi and the panicky deep defense was castigated.
INDIA-PAKISTAN IN ASIAN GAMES HOCKEY:
Year Venue Result Score
1958 Tokyo Pakistan drew with India 0-0 (League match)**
1962 Jakarta Pakistan beat India 2-0 (Final)
1966 Bangkok India beat Pakistan 1-0 (Final)
1970 Bangkok Pakistan beat India 1-0 (Final)
1974 Tehran Pakistan drew with India 1-1 (Final)
1974 Tehran Pakistan beat India 2-0 (Reply-Final)
1978 Bangkok Pakistan beat India 1-0 (Final)
1982 Delhi Pakistan beat India 7-1 (Final)
1986 Seoul Pakistan beat India 3-1 (Semi Final)
1990 Beijing Pakistan beat India 3-2 (League match)**
2002 Busan India beat Pakistan 4-3 (Semi final)
2010 Guangzhou India beat Pakistan 3-2 (League match)
2014 Incheon Pakistan beat India 2-1 (League match)
** No final was played in 1958 and 1990, Pakistan finished top in league and win the gold medal on both occasions.
