Wishing India - Gold in Men's Hockey at Incheon ..

Will it be time for celebrations ? …….. A brilliant field goal in the 44^th minute by Akashdeep Singh gave India a 1-0 victory over South Korea and a place in the men’s hockey final at the Asian Games, in Incheon, on Tuesday.  Indians, who last made it to the Asiad final way back in 2002 at Busan, will meet Pakistan in the finals.   Pak drew with Malaysia and then beat them 6-5 in the penalty shoot out to enter the finals.  

The 2014 Asian Games, officially  XVII Asiad, the largest sporting event in Asia being held in Incheon, South Korea from September 19 – October 4, 2014 - with 439 events in 36 sports and disciplines.  As you would remember, the large Indian contingent was led by Sardar Singh, Captain of National Hockey team.  It was a proud moment for Sardar Singh and Indian Hockey when he was selected to be the flag-bearer in the Opening ceremony parade of Nations.

Sardar Singh and his team came up with a brilliant display of controlled aggression as India got the better of hosts South Korea 1-0 in the first semifinal. India has earned the spot in the finals of the Asian Games after 12 years, when it was defeated by South Korea 4-3 in 2002. Pakistan defeated India 2-1 earlier on in the group stages, which lifted the Greenshirts to the top of the pool, sealing a place for the defending champions in the semi-finals. Now the Nations would meet again in the Finals.  Bolstered by the return of Rupinder Pal Singh,  Indians dominated Koreans though they  wasted a golden chance to take the lead in the fifth minute as Dharamvir Singh failed to tap into an open goal after Sardar latched on to a mistake by Hyosik Yu and found Dharamvir through Akashdeep.  Later in that momentous 44^th minute, Akashdeep Singh scored that golden goal ending India’s 12-year final jinx in Asiad hockey.

Field hockey is an Asian Games event since 1958 in Tokyo, Japan. Women's competition only held since 1982 in New Delhi, India.  In 1966, India won at Bangkok beating Pak by a solitary goal.  Victory against arch-rival India in the Asian Games final would help in the revival of the game of hockey in India reclaiming more fame and sponsors.

Look forward to India recapturing glory in the National game.  Wishing Indian Team success

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

1^st Oct 2014.