Arch-rivals Pakistan, India clash as Asia Cup starts today

KARACHI: Arch-rivals Pakistan and India clash in a group A match as the 11th edition of Asia Cup starts on Monday (today) in Jakarta.

An action-packed opening day will also witness Malaysia take on Oman, who are riding on the success of their Asian Games Qualifier in Thailand a fortnight ago, while Asian Champions Trophy title holders Korea will play Bangladesh in the Pool B matches. Japan, who are also the Asian Games defending champions, will take on hosts Indonesia.

Pakistan hockey team manager Khawaja Junaid has said that the Green-shirts would play their own game keeping in mind that they need to qualify for World Cup. “We will not come under pressure of any team. Our players won’t think about high ranking of other teams or their experience of international hockey,” he said.

Junaid said that both India and Japan are strong teams and have services of experienced players. “But our coach Siegfried Aikman has trained and prepared the players keeping in mind the strengths of rival teams,” he added.

“Our players will go all out against India and Japan and try their best level efforts to surprise them and secure berth in the World Cup,” he said.

India have named a young team under the leadership of vastly experienced Birendra Lakra and vice-captain SV Sunil. Star performer at the Tokyo Olympic Games, Simranjeet Singh makes a comeback after a long injury lay-off. The team will be guided by two-time Olympian and former captain Sardar Singh as their coach.

Speaking on the eve of their opening match against Pakistan, both Lakra and Sunil stressed the need to guide the youngsters in the high-pressure game. “Pressure is always there (against Pakistan). Any match against Pakistan is always a high-voltage one,” Sunil said. “As seniors we can’t be too excited, (because) then the junior players will come under pressure. So, we need to take it as a normal match,” he added.

Sunil said, “No team can be taken lightly. Everyone is here to earn a place in the World Cup next year and as defending champions our focus will be on putting up our best show.”

Lakra said: “Both the teams are young. For us, it is important to go match by match. If the performance is good result will definitely come. If we perform well the confidence level will be high.”

The match can be seen live on PHF website.

India and Pakistan last played each other in the Asian Champions Trophy 2021 which India won 4-3 to claim bronze medal.

India, the third highest-ranked team in the world, have been placed in the Pool A with Pakistan, Japan and hosts Indonesia and will play Pakistan in the last match in the opening day’s schedule. Pool B includes Malaysia, South Korea, Oman, and Bangladesh in the eight-team competition.

The Asia Cup is being held after a gap of two years as it was postponed last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The top three teams at the end of the Asia Cup will qualify for next year’s FIH Hockey World Cup, to be held in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. India have already qualified for the World Cup as the hosts.