Asian Games: Indian Men’s Hockey Team stuns Pakistan, Abhay Singh wins gold

HANGZHOU — The Indian Men’s Hockey Team on Saturday dominated their neighbouring rivals Pakistan at the 19th Asian Games 2022, getting a stunning 10-2 victory to continue their winning run in the tournament, here at Hangzhou on Saturday.

India forward Lalit Kumar Upadhyay earned his 150th International Cap in the match.

Harmanpreet Singh (11′, 17’, 33′, 34′) scored four goals, while Varun Kumar (41’, 54′) scored a brace. Mandeep Singh (8′), Sumit (30’), Shamsher Singh (46′), and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay (49′) also scored a goal each for India to get the win. Muhammad Khan (38′), and Abdul Rana (45′) scored the goals for Pakistan.

India Captain Harmanpreet Singh instantly started testing Pakistan with long passes inside the striking circle. An attacking move from the right flank from Mandeep Singh broke down after a miscommunication with Jarmanpreet Singh. But Mandeep Singh (8′) made up for it a few minutes later, putting the ball into the nets to give India a 1-0 lead.

Goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak made a solid save after Pakistan earned an early Penalty Corner, and a minute later, Harmanpreet Singh (11′) successfully converted a penalty stroke to make it 2-0 for India to close out the first quarter.

India earned an early penalty corner at the start of the second quarter, and Harmanpreet Singh (17′) scored the third goal for his side with a powerful drag-flick.

Sumit remained alert in defence and deflected the danger away with ease after Pakistan began a counter-attack in search of their first goal. Veteran Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh made a crucial save with his left foot after Pakistan earned a late Penalty Corner. Sumit (30′) deflected the ball into the nets at the stroke of halftime to put India 4-0 ahead heading into the break.

An early error in defence in the second half from Pakistan, led to India earning their second penalty stroke, and Harmanpreet Singh (33′) converted it with a picture-perfect scoop to complete his hat-trick.

A minute later, the Indian skipper Harmanpreet (34′) converted a penalty corner to make it 6-0 for his side.

Pakistan finally got on board with Muhammad Khan (38′) scoring from a penalty corner of their own. Varun Kumar (41′) tapped the ball into the nets after receiving a pass from Sukhjeet Singh to make it 7-1 for India. But Pakistan pulled another goal back as Abdul Rana (45′) converted a Penalty Corner. India went into the final quarter with a 7-2 lead.

The fourth quarter started with Shamsher Singh (46′) picking a brilliant pass inside the circle, and turning around to hit it into the nets to make it 8-2 for India.

Pakistan offered plenty of space to Lalit Kumar Upadhyay (49′), and the Indian forward struck the 9th goal for his side. Varun Kumar (54′) scored his second goal of the match from a Penalty Corner to push India’s goal tally into the double figures.

PR Sreejesh saved late Penalty corners from Pakistan, and India won the match 10-2.

Asian Games: Man who wanted to quit squash in 2021 wins gold for India with dramatic win against Pakistan

HANGZHOU — In December 2021, Abhay Singh was considering quitting squash altogether after failing to make it to the Indian squad for some important events. Then he was picked in the Indian team for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

He changed his mind, played in a tournament to prepare for CWG and won his first Challenger Tour event in Lorient, France, in May 2022. He went to play in the Commonwealth Games and continued with playing squash.

It proved to be a good decision as on Saturday, Abhay Singh scripted history for India as he came back from the brink of defeat to beat Pakistan’s Noor Zaman 3-2 in the third match, winning the match after facing a matchball at 8-10. He won the next two points to tie scores at 10-all and then secured victory for India by winning the next two points for a 12-10 win in the fifth game and a sensational victory. He won the match 11-7, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10 in a dramatic finisih that had the fans in the entire stadium sitting on the edge of their seats.

Abhay said he would like to dedicate this victory to his senior teammates — Saurav Ghosal, Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu and Mahesh Mangaonkar.

“If this is any of their last Asian Games (the older players in the squad – Ghosal, Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu and Mahesh Mangaonkar), this one is for them. This one is for the three boys who came back.

“I have to do something for them, for all the sacrifices they have put in to be here, to send them out in a good way.

“It’s for them but most importantly for my country,” Abhay said after the match.

He said Ghosal did not give him any pep talk during the match but his presence on the bench itself was a confidence booster.

“It was not really a pep talk, he’s the GOAT (greatest of all time). To have him in your corner, just to be there for you, it’s emotionally very comforting, looking out at him,” he said.

Abhay also dedicated the win to his parents, who has sacrificed a lot to let him pursue squash.

“My dad comes from very humble beginnings. He comes from Uttar Pradesh and moved to Chennai early on, which is a blessing in disguise. We live five minutes away from the national centre, the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai.

“Living so close is very beneficial. I train every day there, even now. Chennai is the place. I’ve seen how much this means to them (parents),” he said.

Abhay called up his father soon after the match but could not speak for long and instead shed tears of joy.

“My dad was at work – he was watching and picked up the phone. I was just crying. I couldn’t say much, but my mum was taking a nap, so she probably couldn’t answer the phone. She’s a heart patient, so she doesn’t watch me play so much,” he said.

Abhay remembered the sacrifices his family had made to help him be successful.

“My parents have sacrificed so much for (me), whether it be my dad helping me financially to get me where I am as a squash player, or my mum travelling the world with me as a child, so I could gain exposure,” he added.

Now that he has played a crucial role in helping India script a memorable victory, Abhay will be hoping to get more chances of playing in top events and continue to live up to his dream. The Asian Games gold adds fuel to his desires, it is now for him to script further success.

Also read: Asian Games: India overcome Pakistan in thriller to claim men’s squash team gold