Pakistan edge India to retain SAG hockey title

GUWAHATI, India: Pakistan Whites edged India in South Asian Games hockey final 1-0 at Tayebulla Stadium here on Friday, completing a hat-trick of gold medals.

Awais-Ur-Rehman scored the decisive goal in the last moments of the first half.

Pakistan had also defeated their arch-rivals by 2-1 in a group match.

Pakistan had won the hockey gold in 2006 and 2010 editions, beating India in the final on both occasions.

The Indians managed few goal-scoring chances. The near capacity crowd was cheering the home players, but they did not rise to any great heights, except for a short spell in the second half.

Pakistan completely dominated the first half and though India pressed for an equaliser with several raids into the opposition post towards the end of the match, the goal did not come for the home country.

With at least half a dozen Olympians in their ranks as against India’s one in Gurbaj Singh, Pakistan dominated for most part of the match.

Pakistan attacked mostly from the right and a Muhammad Rizwan strike was parried by Dahiya.

The Indian goalkeeper then denied Pakistan once again in the seventh as he blocked a penalty corner.

The Indians were seen defending desperately and were saved virtually on the goal-line by Nilam Xess after Pakistan broke through from the left flank.

President Mamnoon Hussain and former Pakistan hockey stars congratulated the Green-shirts for winning the tournament.