Pak top pool as India take a dip

India paid the price for some sloppy display as they suffered a humiliating 2-4 loss against bitter rivals Pakistan in a pool B match of the...

India paid the price for some sloppy display as they suffered a humiliating 2-4 loss against bitter rivals Pakistan in a pool B match of the Asia Cup hockey tournament here today.

India sorely missed the services of an injured Jugraj Singh as they frittered away several chances including as many as four penalty corners to finish second behind Pakistan in the pool. The loss also means India will have to play the Asian Games winner South Korea, who are the pool A leader, in the semifinals on Friday. Pakistan will play Japan for a place in the final.

India recovered from a two goal deficit to tie the score 2-2 at the half time but conceded a couple more in second half to lose the match, billed as the revenge game for India after their loss against Pakistan in the bronze medal play-off in the Champions Trophy last month.

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Kashif Jawad, who opened the account for Pakistan, scored the first two goals (11th, 22nd) while Waseem Ahmed (59th) and Sohail Abbas (69) converted the two penalty corners Pakistan got during the match. For India, Deepak Thakur (24th) and Sandeep Michael (34th) scored the goals. India, who are seeking to win the first Asia Cup title, were to be blamed for a below-par performance today as they played without much coordination.

The dying minutes of the match saw India concede the fourth goal as penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas unleashed a powerful drag flick.