In a nail-biting final match at the inaugural Hockey 5s Asia Cup in Oman, India emerged victorious against Pakistan with a score of 6-4 in a shootout. The Indian goalkeeper, Suraj Karkera, played a pivotal role by denying Pakistan twice during the shootout, securing the hard-fought win for India.
The closely contested match saw both teams displaying their skills on the field. India’s Mohammed Raheel (19th and 26th minute), Jugraj Singh (7th), and Maninder Singh (10th) found the target during regulation time. On the other side, Pakistan managed to score through Abdul Rehman (5th), skipper Abdul Rana (13th), Zikriya Hayat (14th), and Arshad Liaqat (19th), resulting in a 4-4 scoreline.
The shootout turned out to be the decider, with India’s Gurjot Singh and Maninder Singh successfully converting their attempts, while Pakistan’s Arshad Liaqat and Murtaza were unable to beat India’s custodian, Suraj Karkera.
Reflecting on the victory, Karkera emphasized the team’s determination to learn from their previous loss to Pakistan and make improvements accordingly. He particularly praised teammate Mohammed Raheel for his crucial late equalizing goal, which extended the match into the shootout phase.
Sardar Singh, former captain of the Indian team, served as the coach and provided invaluable guidance to the team. Karkera highlighted the impact of Singh’s experience and strategic insights, especially in dealing with tough opponents like Pakistan.
Hockey India celebrated the team’s achievement by announcing a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh for each player and Rs 1 lakh for the support staff members, acknowledging their outstanding performance and dedication throughout the tournament.
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