By Alam Zeb Safi
LONDON: India produced a ruthless second-half display to hammer Pakistan 7-1 in the FIH Pro League on Friday, condemning their arch-rivals to a 15th consecutive defeat in this season’s competition and leaving them still without a point.
Pakistan made the brighter start at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre and stunned India when captain Abu Mahmood converted a penalty corner in the 13th minute to give his side an early lead.
The advantage proved short-lived as India responded with two goals before halftime. Sukhjeet Singh equalised in the 20th minute before Abhishek put India ahead three minutes later, allowing the Olympic bronze medallists to take a 2-1 lead into the interval.
India took complete control after the break, exposing Pakistan’s defence with relentless pressure and clinical finishing.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh extended the lead from a penalty corner in the 26th minute before Hardik Singh converted a penalty stroke early in the third quarter. Jugraj Singh added another moments later as India raced into a commanding 5-1 advantage.
Abhishek grabbed his second goal of the match in the fourth quarter before Raj Kumar Pal and Dilpreet Singh completed the rout, capping an emphatic seven-goal performance.
India dominated virtually every statistical category, registering 36 circle penetrations to Pakistan’s 18 and earning 13 penalty corners compared with Pakistan’s six. Three of India’s goals came from penalty corners, while Hardik Singh added one from the penalty spot.
For Pakistan, the defeat marked a worrying milestone as they slumped to their 15th successive loss in the 2025-26 FIH Pro League. Despite taking an early lead, they were unable to withstand India’s sustained attacking pressure and have yet to register a point in the campaign.
The heavy defeat also underlined the gulf between the two South Asian rivals, with India scoring seven unanswered goals after conceding first to complete one of their most comprehensive victories over Pakistan in recent years.
