CHENNAI: Pakistan were knocked out of the Asian Champions Trophy, after facing a daunting 0-4 defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India on Wednesday.
Pakistan ended up with the same points as Japan and South Korea, however, it failed to qualify due to goal difference, as the other two teams progressed to the next round.
The green shirts failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy for the first time since its inception in 2011.
Pakistan started the game on a high with some great groundwork, however, Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh gave his team the lead with a goal just before the end of the first quarter.
India never looked back after that, as they dominated the second quarter and improved their lead with another goal by Harmanpreet Singh off a penalty corner.
Indian team kept challenging Pakistan’s defence and bore fruits as Jugraj Singh and Akashdeep Singh scored one goal each to finish the game at 4-0.
This loss extended Pakistan’s winless streak against India to 16 games, as they last won against arch-rivals back in 2016 in South Asian games.
Pakistan’s only victory in the Asian Champions Trophy came against China in the last game, which finished at the bottom of the table with one point only.
Prior to that game, Pakistan was winless in the Asian Champions Trophy, as they drew against Japan (3-3), and defending champions South Korea (1-1), while, they were handed a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Malaysia in their first game.
Pakistan will face China for the fifth and sixth place playoff on August 11.
South Korea will face Malaysia in the first semi-final on August 11, meanwhile, India will face Japan in the second semi-final on the same day.
Pakistan previously won the tournament in 2012 and 2013, while they shared the trophy with India in 2018 as the final was forfeited due to persistent rain. Meanwhile, India have won the title in 2011 and 2016.
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