Sports Desk: India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 in a thrilling Pool D encounter at the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 at the Wagener Stadium here on Wednesday, securing their place in the next round of the tournament. India made a flying start, with captain Harmanpreet Singh opening the scoring from a penalty corner in the fifth minute. Abhishek then doubled the advantage before Harmanpreet struck again to put India firmly in control. Pakistan responded strongly in the second quarter. Hannan Shahid pulled one back before Sufyan Khan added another as Pakistan reduced the deficit. However, India maintained their attacking momentum, with Abhishek scoring his second goal to help the side take a 4-2 lead into half-time.
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The third quarter remained fiercely contested. Pakistan continued to threaten India’s defence and Shahid scored again to make it 4-3. India, however, held their nerve and continued to create opportunities. Hardik Singh restored India’s two-goal cushion in the third quarter, giving India a 5-3 advantage. The Indian defence then held firm through the final period to secure a memorable victory. The result was particularly significant for India after their 4-2 defeat to England in their previous Pool D match. The win over Pakistan ensured that India finished among the top two teams in the pool and advanced to the next stage.
The victory also extended India’s recent dominance over Pakistan in international hockey. The two sides had previously met in the FIH Pro League in June, when India registered victories of 4-3 and 7-1. For India, the victory keeps alive their hopes of ending a long wait for a men’s Hockey World Cup title. Their last triumph came in 1975, and the 2026 campaign offers another opportunity to challenge for the trophy.
