COLOMBO, Aug 25: Two penalty corner strikes by Imran Warsi helped Pakistan clinch the South Asian Games hockey gold after a 3-2 victory against arch-rivals India at Matale on Friday.
The traditional rivals faced each other after 11 years in the Games. They had last played in 1995 at Chennai where India won the final.
The Indians came under tremendous pressure after two goals by Imran which put green shirts 3-1 ahead.
Pakistan dominated the midfield, while forwards also showed good coordination.
The game started with both sides making speedy moves butit was Pakistan who went ahead, Shabbir Ahmad scoring in the fifth minute. India, however, equalised through Sardara Singh few minutes before halftime.
Pakistan upped their tempo and it was Imran who grabbed the lead in the 37th minute followed by another strike in the 43rd minute that mounted pressure on India.
India missed a few chances because of poor finishing. The Indian succeeded in reducing the margin 3-2 in the 60th minute when Kanth found the cage.
The dying minutes saw Pakistani defenders thwart Indian attempts for an equaliser. “It was our day and winning the gold is like a dream coming true,” said team manager, Saleem Sherwani. “It was hard-fought match and we deserved to win.”
A disappointed Indian coach conceded that the team played badly and did not deserve to win. “We played badly. There were a lot of missed chances while our finishing was poor.”
Sri Lanka blanked Bangladesh 2-0 to claim the bronze.
GOLD IN SHOOTING
Pakistan grabbed one gold, three silver and two bonze medals on the fifth day of the shooting competition at the Naval Base. The women shooters also impressed with two silver and one bronze medals in team events.
It was Pakistan's third gold in the shooting events which will end on Saturday.
Pakistan had earlier won two gold, two silver and nine bronze medals. Now they have three gold, four silver and 11 bronze medals.
Pakistan's ace shooter Mohammad Boota along with Maqbool Hussain and Irshad Ali teamed up to snatch the gold in the 25 metre centre fire pistol team event with 1695. India scored 1682 to take the silver through Ashok Pandit, Mahaveer Singh and Kanchan Gurung. Sri Lankan team got bronze.
Boota won the silver in the 25 metre centre fire pistol with a personal score of 567 before Indian Ashok Pandit took the gold with 570 and Maqbool Tabbbasum (565) claimed the bronze.
“We are really excited to win the gold because the competition was very close as India is ruling the shooting events. Winning gold is something very big in the presence of India's world known shooters”, said Pakistani team.
Women’s team of Farhat Nasreen, Mehwish Maqsood and Azra Nazir gabbed the silver in the 10 metre air pistol claiming 1109. Indian team of Harveen Sraq, Navsheen Fatima and Shilpa Singh claimed gold with 1128 while Sri Lanka secured the bronze with 1106.
Pakistan’s Horriba Yaqoob, Urooj Fartima and Nazish Khan won silver with a score of 1665 in the 50 metre rifle three positions.
India won the gold through Meena, Navdeep Kaur and Raj Kumari (1702) and Sri Lanka cinched silver with 1659.
Mehwsih gave Pakistan the bronze in the 10m air pistol with a score of 470 as Indian Inain Harveen Srao (480) won the gold. Another Indian Navheen Fatima (377) finished with silver.
PAKISTANIS EXCEL IN TAEKWONDO WITH FOUR MEDALS
Pakistan took a fine start in taekwondo competitions, winning one gold, two silver and one bronze medals at St. Joseph College.
Malik Shahzad Ahmad gave Pakistan first gold in the finweight, beating Nepal's Kumar Manadhar. Sri Lankan Nalinda got the bronze medal.
Faheem Jawad won silver in the flyweight who beat Pradeep Singh of India. Rohulah Nickpai from Afghanistan won the gold.
Pakistan’s Kiran took silver when she lost to Indian Jayati Pathak. Bhutan's Dewa won bronze. Samiya gave Pakistan the bronze medal in the flyweight losing to Samanthi of Sri Lanka. Afghanistan's Neela claimed the silver medal.
KARATE BRONZE
Shamsuz Zaman gave Pakistan the karate bronze medal at Sugathadasa indoor stadium.
Shama uz Zaman won the medal in the 75kg kamite which was won by Sri Lankan W. C. S. Silva as Afghanistan's M Fedaee got the silver.
On Thursday night Pakistan won the gold in team kata before Ghulam Ali gave the country first gold medal in the individual kata.
PAKISTAN IN SOCCER FINAL
Captain Essa Khan’s extra time goal guide Pakistan into soccer competitions final after a 2-1 victory over Nepal at Sugathadasa Stadium.
Pakistan defied rain, soggy field and a strong opposition. The match was 1-1 at full time before Essa broke the deadlock.
The final being played Sunday will be a repeat of an earlier Group A match against Sri Lankan whom Pakistan beat 1-0. The Lankan side moved to the final after a penalty shootout victory against India.
Defending champions Pakistan conceded the goal in the dying stages of the first half when Jumanu Rai's header gave Pakistan goalkeeper Mohammad Shahzad no chance.
After the change of ends, Pakistan came back to level and changed game plan making desperate efforts for an equalizer. Slack defence by Nepal gave Pakistan a chance to restore parity in the 55th minute when Shahid Ahmed found the target with a long range strike off Nepal's defenders Anjan.
After a goalless first half of the extra time, Essa’s overhead kick gave Pakistan winning goal.
SRI LANKAN SPIKERS SHOCK PAKISTAN
Sri Lanka gave Pakistan a big shock with 23-25, 25-23, 20-25,29-27, 15-11 win on the third day of the volleyball competitions at Sugathadasa indoor stadium.
Pakistan who play India in the last league match on Saturday are now in a must win situation to contend for the gold.
Pakistan failed to maintain the flow and committed mistakes
Only Naseer gave some good performance from Pakistan as star performer Mohammad Zaman, Mohammad Ihsan ullah and Sajid Nawaz failed to impress.
Sri Lanka were well supported by Sunil KMK, Abeykoon, Wasanthapriya, Eranda Km and Silva ASM.
DEFEAT IN KABBADI
Pakistan, who are already through to the final, lost to India in last league kabaddi match at National Youth Centre.
India beat Pakistan 40-17 before leading the first half 28-8.—APP
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