India edge Pakistan 4-3 to reach Asian Games hockey final

India beat Pakistan 4-3 in the Asian Games men's hockey semifinal on October 1, recovering the lead after Pakistan fought back from a three-goal deficit to tie the match. Abhishek scored the late winner, sending India through to the gold-medal final and ending Pakistan's hopes of reaching it. India took control early through captain Harmanpreet Singh, who converted penalty corners in the fifth and 13th minutes. Sukhjeet Singh made it 3-0 in the 23rd minute, finishing a move created by Manpreet Singh and Shilanand Lakra. Pakistan began its comeback just before halftime, when Abu Mahmood scored from a penalty corner in the 30th minute. Hannan Shahid cut the deficit to one in the 45th minute, and Waheed Rana levelled the score at 3-3 in the 49th. The equaliser set up a tense final quarter after India had appeared to be in control. With the match level, Abhishek scored from the right side of the circle to restore India's lead. Accounts of the match say the shot deflected off a Pakistan stick. The precise timing differs in reports: one gives 50 seconds remaining, while another says less than three minutes. India held on for the 4-3 win.