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New Delhi: Sultan of Johor Cup hockey match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan ended in a 3-3 draw on Tuesday after a dramatic finish. Pakistan secured an early 2-0 lead with a dominant display of play while India made a superb comeback in the final quarter scoring three goals in 10 minutes.
Just when it looked like the game was moving in favour of the Men in Blue, Pakistan equalised with a goal in the dying minutes of the match just before the hooter rang to share the spoils in a thriller which also halted India's unbeaten streak. Indian team, which had bagged two victories in the tournament, will share a point with the traditional rivals.
Earlier, India gave high-fives to Pakistan players before the start of the match putting an end to the 'no handshake' policy.
India netted three goals in a blistering ten-minute spell with Araijeet Singh Hundal completing the rally in the 43rd minute by bundling the ball home from close range for his second goal of the match. The goal came after Pakistan failed to convert a penalty corner with Sufyan Khan not able to replicate his earlier success. With just over eight minutes remaining for the final hooter, India's winning streak looked to continue but Pakistan hit back late to snatch a draw.
Sourabh Anand Kushwaha and Manmeet Singh scored the other two goals for India in the 47th and 53rd minute respectively while Hannan Shahid had started off by firing a goal in the 5th minute of play. It was Sufyan's second goal in the 55th minute that changed the fortunes for the Men in Green, which clearly looked to lose the encounter after India's late dominance.
Meanwhile, moving away from the recent template set by the country's cricketers, the Indian junior men's hockey team players exchanged pleasantries with their counterparts from Pakistan before the match and after it also in the Sultan of Johor Cup.
