Harmanpreet Singh’s four goals accompanied by an overall dominating performance helped India register a massive 10-2 win over arch-rivals Pakistan at Hangzhou Asian Games 2023 on September 30. With an eight-goal difference, this is India’s biggest win over Pakistan. Harmanpreet's India avenged the 41-year-old 1-7 loss to Pakistan in the Asian Games gold medal match.
Thumping start
Mandeep opened the scoring in the eighth minute of the game. Mandeep and Abhishek beat Pakistan's defence and a late tap-in from the former found the back of the net. A few minutes later, skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored on a penalty stroke. In the second quarter, Harmanpreet scored via a drag flick to extend the lead. Just when the whistle of the second quarter was about to go off, Gurjant Singh found a touch to beat the goalkeeper and score his first goal. It started with a reverse stick Sumit followed by a deft touch from Lalit Upadhyay after which Gurjant netted it.
Harmanpreet’s hat-trick, Pakistan’s consolation goals
In the third quarter, Harmanpreet completed his hat-trick with a chip over the keeper. A minute later, he converted the penalty corner as the scoreline read 6-0. For Pakistan, the first goal was scored by Sufiyan Mohammed with a drag flick off a penalty corner. In the 41st minute, Sukhjeet Singh's pass found Varun Kumar who scored a brilliant field goal with a deflection. Just when the third quarter was about to conclude, India conceded a penalty corner and After Umar Bhutta threaded the defense, Abdul Rana managed to get a deflection to score Pakistan's second goal.
More damage in the fourth quarter
Early into the fourth quarter, Shamsher scored a goal with a reverse stick shot. Upadhyay scored his first after getting the ball from Jarmanpreet Singh as he went wide of the goalkeeper. India's goal tally reached double-digit figures as Varun converted a penalty corner into a goal.
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