Pakistan, India end 32-year wait for hockey final

INCHEON: Arch-rivals Pakistan and India are facing off in a mouth-watering field hockey final at the Asian Games today (Thursday) with a place in the 2016 Olympics at stake.

Pakistan scored first within minutes of play staring when Muhammad Rizwan Sr found the back of the net. India equalised in the second quarter.

Millions of fans in both nations are glued to their television screens for the title clash which earns the winner a ticket to Rio de Janeiro and the loser left facing a hazardous qualification route.

India and Pakistan last met in an Asiad final way back at New Delhi in 1982 where the Indians suffered a stunning 1-7 rout in front of their home fans that included then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

In Beijing in 1990 when Pakistan claimed the gold and India the silver, there was no final since the winner was decided after a round-robin league.

Eight-time Olympic champions India have won the Asiad title just twice, both in the Thai capital of Bangkok in 1966 and 1998. In contrast, defending champions Pakistan are the most successful team in the continental games with eight golds, highlighted by four successive wins over India in a final from 1970 to 1982.