India Get Better Of Pakistan In Penalty Shootout To Lift Men’s Hockey 5s Asia Cup 2023

The Indian hockey team has bagged the Men’s Hockey 5s Asia Cup 2023 by defeating arch-rival Pakistan in the penalty shootout in the final.

India has qualified for Men's Hockey World Cup 2024

Both the teams were tied at 4-4 till the stipulated time. With the victory in this tournament, India has qualified to play in the Men's Hockey World Cup 2024.

Mohammad Raheel scored two goals for India in the final match. Whereas Jugraj Singh and Maninder Singh scored one goal each.

Whereas for Pakistan, Abdul Rehman, captain Abdul Rana, Zikariya Hayat and Arshad Liaquat scored goals.

Spirited start from India

It was a spirited start from India as it started pushing deep in Pakistan’s half straightaway. But Pakistan intercepted the ball and started threatening from the left flank. Indian goalkeeper Suraj Karkera stepped up to make important saves, but Pakistan broke the resistance with Abdul Rehman (5’) getting the opening goal of the match. 

However, Pakistan could not keep the Indian attackers quiet for too long, and Jugraj Singh (7’) provided the much-needed equalizer for India. Three minutes later, India took lead as Maninder Singh (10’) scored with a reverse hit from a distance.

Pakistan led 3-2 at half time

Pakistan Captain Abdul Rana (13’), and Zikriya Hayat (14’) scored back-to-back late goals and the match went into halftime with Pakistan leading 3-2.

Trailing by a goal, India needed to deliver an urgent response in the second half, and the Mandeep Mor-led side started maintaining possession and pressing deeper in the opposition’s half. But Pakistan made the most of a challenge as Arshad Liaqat (19’) struck the ball into the back of the nets. Pakistan now led 4-2

Mohammed Raheel (19’) gave a response straightaway to pull a goal back for India to reduce the lead to 4-3. India started attacking from all corners, leading to Pakistan making a couple of crucial defensive errors. After receiving a long pass, Mohammed Raheel (26’) dribbled past Pakistan’s defence and struck the ball into the net to level the scoreline.

Gurjot Singh and Maninder scored in penalty shootout

When the match was tied at 4-4 in the stipulated time, the decision was taken through penalty shootout where Gurjot Singh and Maninder Singh scored two goals for India.

Whereas Pakistan's Arshad Liaquat and Mohammad Mortaza could not score goals and with this the Indian team won the Asia Cup Hockey.

Hockey India announced reward of Rs 2 lakh to each player

On this victory of India, Hockey India announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh to each player, while the support staff will be given Rs 1 lakh each.

Before this match, BCCI had tweeted and wished the hockey team all the best for the final.

After winning the Asia Cup, the Indian Hockey Federation thanked BCCI for wishing them well and tweeted that we have won the Asia Cup, now it is your turn.