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A last-minute goal by Abhishek secured India a 4-3 victory over Pakistan and a place in the men’s hockey final at the Aichi Asian Games after India surrendered a three-goal lead in a semifinal marked by dramatic shifts in momentum.
India appeared in control with a 3-0 advantage midway through the second quarter, but Pakistan fought back to level the score in the 49th minute. Abhishek’s decisive effort, which went in off a Pakistani defender, ended the deadlock and kept India’s gold medal hopes alive.
The rivalry will continue in cricket on Friday, when India and Pakistan meet in the final. India defeated Sri Lanka by 124 runs in its semifinal, while Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets to secure its place in the title match.
Despite sunny weather and expectations that the hockey semifinal would attract a large crowd, the stands at Green Stadium in Gifu remained largely empty. Those in attendance, however, witnessed a closely contested match that remained undecided until the final minute.
Pakistan attacked in the opening minute, but India soon took control. Captain Harmanpreet Singh converted penalty corners in the fifth and 13th minutes, giving India an early two-goal cushion.
India extended its lead in the 23rd minute when Sukhjeet Singh finished a move created by Shilanand Lakra down the flank. With a 3-0 advantage, India seemed well positioned to dictate the remainder of the match.
Pakistan began its comeback in the closing moments of the second quarter. Captain Abu Mahmood scored from a penalty corner, sending a powerful shot into the net to reduce the deficit before halftime.
India’s defensive lapses late in the second and third quarters proved costly, allowing Pakistan to regain momentum after struggling to contain the Indian attack in the first half.
Dilpreet Singh’s dismissal in the 43rd minute further shifted the balance. Pakistan capitalized on India’s reduced numbers, using its movement along the flanks and close dribbling to draw defenders out of position and create openings.
As the third quarter drew to a close, Haman Shahid finished an attacking move from the flank, beating Indian goalkeeper Suraj to bring Pakistan within one goal.
Pakistan maintained the pressure after the two-minute interval. In the 49th minute, another move initiated by Shahid ended with Rana Waheed supplying the finishing touch to make it 3-3.
The equalizer completed Pakistan’s recovery from a three-goal deficit and stunned the Indian defense and the small group of Indian supporters in the stands. With momentum shifting toward Pakistan, a penalty shootout appeared increasingly possible.
India replaced Suraj with its second goalkeeper, Mohit, as it sought to regroup for the closing stages. The team pressed forward in search of a winner and earned a couple of penalty corners but could not convert them.
Over the final eight minutes, India intensified its attacking efforts while Pakistan tried to hold firm after its comeback. The breakthrough arrived in the last minute, when Abhishek’s attempt toward goal was deflected into the net by a Pakistani defender.
The goal was credited to Abhishek, sealing India’s 4-3 win and ending Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the final.
India will face the winner of the second semifinal between Malaysia and South Korea in the gold medal match on October 3. The final will also offer a direct qualification berth for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Elsewhere at the Games, India added two bronze medals through its women’s performances in squash and archery, bringing the country’s overall medal tally to 62.
