Indo-Pak titanic showdown today
Sunday, 7 February 2010
The two traditional sub-continent giants India and Pakistan as expected will lock horn to stamp their authority in the hockey final of the 11th South Asian Games at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium at 2:30 pm today (Sunday), reports BSS .
One expects the two arch rivals Pakistan and India have coaches like Shahbaz Junior of Pakistan and Clarence Lobo of India enriched with vast international experiences will play all their cards tomorrow in a prestigious battle to retain the top in this region.
Hockey pundits believes it will be duel between the drag and flick specialists Wasif Siddiky of Pakistan and Raghunath of India.
Indian players have maintained a good track record in the five team competition but the Pakistani players went through ups and downs. India showed their character in a thrilling 3-3 draw against hosts Bangladesh staging a brilliant comeback after trailing 0-2.
While Pakistan struggled to go past Sri Lanka in their last match and somehow managed to register a 2-0 win to ensure a final berth.
India is the only team in the five-team contest that remained unbeaten in the preliminary affairs, while Pakistan tasted its only defeat against India (5-1). But Pakistan coach Shahbaz Junior thinks it would not put his boys down.
Pakistan can draw inspiration that the overall record between the two traditional rivals belongs to them. Among the 140 duels of the seniors or the national teams Pakistan has won 74, India 43 and the other 23 are drawn.
Though both sides have sent their second string national teams, there will be no dearth of excitements and fascinations.
Dhaka hockey fans are eagerly waiting to watch the artistry and craftsmanship of the promising hockey players of India and Pakistan .
"We've done lots of home works and we want to learn from our mistakes. We're expecting a better show in the final," said Shahbaz.
One expects the two arch rivals Pakistan and India have coaches like Shahbaz Junior of Pakistan and Clarence Lobo of India enriched with vast international experiences will play all their cards tomorrow in a prestigious battle to retain the top in this region.
Hockey pundits believes it will be duel between the drag and flick specialists Wasif Siddiky of Pakistan and Raghunath of India.
Indian players have maintained a good track record in the five team competition but the Pakistani players went through ups and downs. India showed their character in a thrilling 3-3 draw against hosts Bangladesh staging a brilliant comeback after trailing 0-2.
While Pakistan struggled to go past Sri Lanka in their last match and somehow managed to register a 2-0 win to ensure a final berth.
India is the only team in the five-team contest that remained unbeaten in the preliminary affairs, while Pakistan tasted its only defeat against India (5-1). But Pakistan coach Shahbaz Junior thinks it would not put his boys down.
Pakistan can draw inspiration that the overall record between the two traditional rivals belongs to them. Among the 140 duels of the seniors or the national teams Pakistan has won 74, India 43 and the other 23 are drawn.
Though both sides have sent their second string national teams, there will be no dearth of excitements and fascinations.
Dhaka hockey fans are eagerly waiting to watch the artistry and craftsmanship of the promising hockey players of India and Pakistan .
"We've done lots of home works and we want to learn from our mistakes. We're expecting a better show in the final," said Shahbaz.