India hammer Pakistan 7-1 in FIH Pro League, extend decade-long dominance

India delivered one of their most dominant performances of the FIH Pro League season, storming back from an early setback to hammer Pakistan 7-1 on Friday, June 26, and extend their decade-long dominance over their arch-rivals.

After conceding an early penalty-corner goal, Craig Fulton’s men responded in emphatic fashion. Sukhjeet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Abhishek, Rajkumar Pal and Dilpreet Singh all found the net in a ruthless attacking display that underlined India’s superiority.

The resounding victory came less than 24 hours after India’s shootout defeat to England and also served as redemption for the defensive frailties exposed during their narrow 4-3 win over Pakistan earlier in the week.

Pakistan drew first blood despite India controlling the opening exchanges. Having squandered three early penalty corners, India were punished in the 13th minute when Abu Mahmood blasted a powerful drag-flick past goalkeeper Mohith Kumar and the line defender to hand Pakistan a surprise lead.

India continued to dominate possession and eventually found the breakthrough early in the second quarter. Harmanpreet’s penalty-corner variation was expertly deflected into the net by Sukhjeet, before the captain restored India’s lead moments later with a trademark drag-flick into the top corner.

Pakistan’s problems deepened when defender Ahmad Nadeem suffered a facial injury and was forced off the field.

“Unfortunately, the ball hit his eyeball. We’re taking him to the hospital and he’ll have an X-ray. We already have three injuries in the team; this is the fourth,” Pakistan coach Khawaja Muhammad Junaid said during the halftime break, as quoted by ESPN.

The contest was effectively settled in a one-sided third quarter.

India first converted a penalty stroke before producing a breathtaking counterattack. After successfully defending a Pakistan penalty corner, they surged forward with quick, incisive passing before Jugraj Singh finished off the move to make it 4-1.

Abhishek added a fifth with a clinical reverse-hit after another slick team move initiated by Sukhjeet. India kept the pressure on and eventually capitalised on another penalty corner, with Rajkumar Pal reacting quickest to a loose ball inside the circle to score the sixth goal.

Pakistan never recovered from India’s relentless surge.

India rounded off the scoring in the 54th minute when Mandeep Singh burst down the left wing and squared the ball for Dilpreet Singh, who controlled brilliantly before finishing from close range.

Pakistan earned a couple of late penalty corners but found India’s defence resolute as the hosts comfortably closed out one of their biggest victories over their neighbours in recent years.

The comprehensive win lifted India above Spain in the FIH Pro League standings with 17 points ahead of their final fixture against England on Sunday. Pakistan, meanwhile, remained without a victory this season.

Beyond the scoreline, the performance will particularly please Fulton, whose side showed significant improvement in two areas that had attracted criticism in recent matches—penalty-corner conversion and defensive discipline.