Asian Hockey Champions Trophy final: Pakistan beat India 5-4

By Zaheerul Hassan

Doha: Pakistan beat India 5-4 to clinch the title of the Asian Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy 2012 in Al Rayyan Stadium, Qatar.     Waqas Sharif and Mohammad Imran scored two goals apiece to help Pakistan win the nail-biter. Pakistan’s Shafqat Rasool scored one goal.   India were leading in the first half 2-1 and it seemed the history was going to repeat itself for the archrivals. But Pakistan fought back, taking last year’s revenge from India, who beat them in the 2011 final.   Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf congratulated the team for the success.

Pakistan’s former hockey ace Islahuddin Siddiqui said though he did not watch the match, he could feel the victory.   Earlier in December 2012 Pakistan won their first Champions Trophy medal since 2004, beating India 3-2 in the bronze medal play-off, depriving their arch-rivals of their first medal in more than 30 years.   Pakistan beat Japan by 5-2 in last pool match while Malaysia beat India by 5-3 but fail to qualify in the final.

However, India were leading eleven of the tournament on the points table with 12 points followed by Pakistan (10) and Malaysia (10). Pakistan qualified for the final for having better goal average.

Pakistani masses are also hopeful in winning T 20 Cricket Match tomorrow.