ISLAMABAD, Oct 01 (APP):Pakistan produced a remarkable comeback from a three-goal deficit but India scored in the dying moments to edge past the Green Shirts 4-3 in a thrilling men’s hockey semifinal of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium on Thursday.
India, the reigning Asian Games champions, appeared firmly in control after captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice in the fifth and 13th minutes, followed by Sukhjeet Singh’s goal in the 23rd minute to give India a 3-0 lead.
Pakistan, however, responded with determination and gradually turned the match on its head.
Pakistan had threatened early, with Muhammad Ammad testing Indian goalkeeper Suraj Karkera in the second minute. India subsequently earned a series of penalty corners, with Pakistan goalkeeper Raza Ali making several important saves before Harmanpreet eventually opened the scoring.
India doubled its advantage through Harmanpreet’s second goal before Sukhjeet Singh extended the lead in the second quarter.
Pakistan captain Abu Mahmood gave his side renewed hope just before halftime, converting a penalty corner in the 30th minute to reduce the deficit to 3-1.
The Green Shirts returned after the interval with greater confidence and began controlling possession and building more organised attacks into the Indian circle.
Their persistence paid off in the 45th minute when Hannan Shahid capitalised on a defensive error to score and bring Pakistan within one goal at 3-2.
Pakistan carried the momentum into the final quarter and completed the comeback in the 49th minute. Hannan Shahid turned provider, setting up Waheed Rana for the equaliser as Pakistan made it 3-3.
The equaliser visibly unsettled India, with Pakistan continuing to attack, particularly down the right flank, and putting the Indian defence under sustained pressure.
With the match heading towards a possible shootout, India found the decisive breakthrough in the final minute. Abhishek’s attempt took a deflection off Pakistan’s Sufyan Khan, wrong-footing the goalkeeper and sending the ball into the net to give India a dramatic 4-3 victory.
Pakistan had little time to respond as the final whistle followed shortly afterwards.
Despite the defeat, Pakistan’s recovery from 0-3 down to level the contest demonstrated the fighting spirit of the young national side and turned the semifinal into one of the most closely contested matches of the tournament.
Pakistan Hockey Federation President Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani praised the national team for its determination and the quality of its comeback.
“Coming back from 3-0 down to level the match 3-3 shows the true spirit and potential of Pakistan hockey,” he said, appreciating the performances of Abu Mahmood, Hannan Shahid and Waheed Rana.
He said winning and losing were part of sport, adding that the way the players fought back against India had made the nation proud.
Wani expressed confidence in the young squad and reaffirmed the PHF’s support for the players, saying the team was showing signs of moving towards regaining Pakistan’s historic position in international hockey.
India will play either Malaysia or the Republic of Korea in the Asian Games men’s hockey final on Saturday.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
