"My heart was racing": PT Usha hails India's hockey win over Pakistan
IOA President PT Usha celebrates India's thrilling 4-3 victory against Pakistan in the Asian Games 2026 hockey semi-finals.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President, PT Usha, expressed her immense pride and excitement following the Indian men's hockey team's breathtaking 4-3 victory against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asian Games 2026 semi-finals. The high-octane encounter, which saw India secure a spot in the final, left fans and officials on the edge of their seats.
A nail-biting encounter in Aichi-Nagoya
Sharing her emotions on X, PT Usha described the match as an unforgettable experience. She noted that her heart was racing in sync with every Indian supporter in the stadium. The IOA President specifically lauded Captain Harmanpreet Singh for his early leadership and praised Abhishek for scoring a spectacular, last-minute winner that sealed the game.
"To bounce back and find a way to win a high-pressure semifinal like this shows the elite mentality of this team. The march to the Gold continues," Usha posted, encouraging the squad to keep moving upwards.
India's dominant start and Pakistan's fierce comeback
The match began with India asserting total dominance. Captain Harmanpreet Singh set the tone early by converting two clinical penalty corners through his signature powerful dragflicks. India surged to a 2-0 lead within the first 13 minutes, with the second goal coming after a low, hard strike through the defenders.
India further extended their cushion in the 24th minute when Sukhjeet Singh deflected a pass from Shilanand to make it 3-0. However, the momentum shifted just before the halftime whistle when Pakistan's Abu Baker managed to reduce the deficit to 3-1.
The dramatic fourth-quarter turnaround
The second half proved to be a rollercoaster of emotions. Following a green card shown to Dilpreet Singh in the 44th minute, Pakistan utilized their numerical advantage to score through Hannan Shahid, bringing the score to 3-2. The pressure intensified in the 49th minute when Waheed Rana found the net, leveling the match at 3-3.
As the clock ticked down, the tension reached a breaking point:
- 54th Minute: Pakistan nearly took the lead via a penalty corner, but Amit Rohidas blocked the dragflick.
- Late Drama: An Indian penalty corner was initially overturned by a Pakistani review, but a free hit was eventually awarded to India.
- The Winner: With only 50 seconds remaining on the clock, Abhishek struck a shot that deflected off a Pakistani stick and into the net, clinching the 4-3 victory.
Despite a frantic final few seconds, India held their nerve to ensure their place in the gold medal match, continuing their quest for glory at the Asian Games.