KUALA LUMPUR, 29 September 2003 — India were crowned champions of the sixth Asia Cup when they defeated archrivals Pakistan 4-2 in a classic encounter at the National Hockey Stadium yesterday.
India’s first win in the tournament since its inception in 1982 gives them an automatic place at the 2006 World Cup which will be held in Germany.
The 10,000 fans that had packed the stadium were treated to a masterly display of attacking hockey by the two Asian giants and in the end it was the clinical finishing of the Indians that won the day.
India went on the offensive and made a few early forays into the Pakistani semi-circle without much success.
However they were awarded a penalty corner in the 6th minute and Kanwalpreet Singh’s hefty hit bounced off the pads of Pakistan’s goalkeeper Ahmad Alam and sailed into the goal to give India the lead.
A minute later Pakistan were back on level terms when Sohail Abbas converted a penalty corner.
India were stunned but never got their act together in defense where Dilip Tirkey was a bunch of nerves.
And when Sohail was presented with another penalty corner in the 13th minute, he sent a flick into the top left hand corner of Devesh Chauhan’s goal to give Pakistan a 2-1 lead.
However India fought back and leveled in the 16th minute when Gagan Ajit Singh deflected Dilip Tirkey’s attempt from a penalty corner into goal.
Though both teams tried to break the deadlock they trooped off the pitch at half-time tied at 2-2.
The second half of the match was less exciting, with both India and Pakistan unwilling to take risks and the battle mostly centered in the middle of the pitch.
But two minutes from time India went 3-2 ahead when Ignace Tirkey scored after a fine individual run.
And when Pakistan threw men into attack, India snatched another goal through Prabhjot Singh.
“All credit to the players for an outstanding performance. They played some of the best hockey I have seen them play,” said Indian coach Rajinder Singh.
“They never gave up and in the end it was our finishing that won the match for us.”
In the match to determine third and fourth place, South Korea defeated Japan 4-2. You Hyo-sik gave the Koreans the lead in the 19th minute but Japan drew level 10 minutes later through Takahiko Yamabori who converted a penalty corner.
Lee Jung-seon made it 2-1 in the 33rd minute to give Korea a 2-1 half-time lead.
Lee scored from yet another penalty corner in the 54th minute to give Korea a 3-1 lead.
Though Japan reduced the deficit when skipper Kenichi Katayama scored four minutes later, Lee scored Korea’s fourth in the 69th minute.
