India will face Pakistan in its final group stage match of the Asian Champions Trophy on September 14 at the Mogi Hockey Training Base in Hulunbuir, China. India, captained by star drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh, currently tops the points table, while Pakistan, led by Ammad Butt, holds the second position.
As the defending champion, India has lived up to its billing as the tournament favorite, winning all its matches so far. India opened the tournament with a 3-0 win over host China, followed by a 5-1 victory against Japan, an 8-1 thrashing of Malaysia, and a solid 3-1 triumph over Korea. India also became the first team to secure a spot in the semifinals.
Pakistan has shown resilience throughout the campaign, playing under the guidance of hockey legend Tahir Zaman. The team drew 2-2 against both Malaysia and Korea, secured a 2-1 win over Japan, and defeated China 5-1, moving up to second place on the points table.
Indian captain Harmanpreet said, “I have been playing with some of the players in the Pakistan team since my junior days, and we share a special bond. They are like my brothers. Of course, on the field, we will approach the match like we would against any other opponent and ensure we keep our emotions in check.”
“In world hockey, the rivalry between the two teams is unparalleled, and I’m sure fans across the globe are eagerly awaiting an India-Pakistan match,” he added.
Pakistan’s skipper Ammad noted, “India has undeniably played like true favourites in the tournament so far. We take heart from our recent performances, and I must say we have improved with every game. We haven’t conceded cards and have played disciplined hockey. We look forward to doing the same against India tomorrow.”
“In the previous few games, we have defended very well against our opponents, and against India too, we aim to defend well, especially in penalty corner defence,” he added.
In recent history, India has convincingly outperformed Pakistan. At the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year, India won 10-2 in the pool match, and a few months earlier, India defeated Pakistan 4-0 at the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai. At the Hero Asia Cup in Jakarta 2022, a young Indian side held Pakistan to a 1-1 draw, while at the Asian Champions Trophy in Dhaka 2021, India beat Pakistan 4-3 to win the bronze medal.
Harmanpreet Singh emphasised that past results won’t matter when they face Pakistan. “They are a tough side and have the potential to bounce back at any stage. We look forward to a good match.”
In other matches of the day, Malaysia will face Korea, while host China will play Japan.
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