HYDERABAD, 28 October 2003 — India rallied for a 4-2 win over archrivals Pakistan in a field hockey encounter that commanded most attention yesterday at the Afro-Asian Games.
World champion shooter Olga Dovgun was denied a world record despite firing a perfect score and host India collected the men’s and women’s team tennis titles.
But those medals and 10 others on the third day of the two-continent meet were just preludes for fans transfixed by the hockey showdown.
Gagan Ajit Singh scored twice as India overcame a 2-1 halftime deficit with three goals in the second half, delighting the parochial local crowd.
The reward for India was top place in Pool B and a semifinal against Malaysia. Pakistan placed second in Pool B and will meet Pool A winners South Korea, the Asian Games champions, in the other semifinal.
The Malaysians completed an All-Asian semifinal lineup despite losing 2-1 to South Korea. Malaysia finished equal on points with South Africa, but advanced on superior goal aggregate.
The South Africans rounded off with 5-0 demolition of Ghana and Egypt overcame Nigeria 4-2 in a rough match featuring six yellow cards.
At the shooting venue, Kazakhstan’s Dovgun fired a faultless 600 to claim the gold medal in the women’s 50-meter rifle prone competition.
