Pakistan shatter Indian dream with come-from-behind title win

LAHORE - Pakistan junior hockey team turned tables on arch rivals India in the final to clinch the Four-Nation Junior Hockey Tournament 3-2 at Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on Sunday. Reports received here said that the Pakistan greens, which lost the last league match of the tournament 1-3 to India, replied back strongly not only earning a hard-fought win but also took the title away from India, which was leading the first half. The real action of the game was witnessed in the second half and the extra time and in second half Pakistan conceded one goal and banged the Indian board twice and later in the extra time got the golden goal with captain Haseem Khan playing a pivotal role but producing two goals. Pakistan got victory in the extra time. India was leading by 1-0 at the half time, while the score was 2-2 at the end of the full time. Indians were leading the match from the start after Mandeep Patel got the first goal in the 22nd minute and converted another goal which was his and his team's second in the 46th minute. But the spirit of Pakistani players was exemplary and they got the first goal from Haseem in the 37th minute. India were still a goal ahead and at this stage Mohammad Zubair masterminded a goal in the 70th minute that ended the regulation time frame in a tie and the game was extended to extra time. Captain Abdul Haseem Khan and his charges entered the field in a do or die spirit and got the golden goal in the 72nd minute. All the Pakistan team's goals came from field moves while India got one in the field and the other was on penalty corner. Earlier, hosts Malaysia humbled their neighbouring city-state Singapore team by a big margin of 6-1 to secure a third place in the tournament. The victorious Pakistan team will arrive back on Monday at Islamabad Airport. Talking to The Nation from Malaysia Pakistan, team coach Khawaja Muhammad Junaid said that it was the loss in the league match that motivated the boys to perform better and when the Indian players got into lead, the Greenshirts got into action. "Pakistan team played tremendous game in the second session. This is a good sign just before the Junior World Cup in June. The win against India is a real motivation for the boys before the big event, which is to be played at the same venue. "I hope that Pakistan team should also win the five-nation tournament in Egypt starting from March 21 because the combination has started to click," he added. Meanwhile, President Pakistan Hockey Federation Qasim Zia, Secretary Muhammad Asif Bajwa, Olympian Rana Mujahid Ali and Chief selector Hassan Sardar congratulated the Pakistan junior team for winning the tournament. They said that after this win the morale of the players will boost up for the Junior World Cup.

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