New Delhi: Indians will have more reasons to celebrate Holi as the national hockey team outplayed arch-rivals Pakistan 4-1 and started their World Cup campaign with a bang at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here Sunday.
India played an attacking game and mesmerised the Pakistanis in a packed stadium and led 2-0 at the halftime. It was the first time both the teams were facing each other in 24 years.
Shivendra Singh opened the account for India in the 27th minute before Sandeep Singh (35th, 57th) and Prabhjot Singh (37th) consolidated the lead.
Pakistan's ace penalty corner expert Sohail Abbas pulled one back in the 59th minute as he converted the fifth penalty corner.
The emphatic win also erased the memories of their 7-1 loss to Pakistan in the Asian Games in 1982 at the same venue.
India's last World Cup win over their sub-continental competitors came 35 years back in Kuala Lumpur when they chalked out a 2-1 victory in the final.
Both the teams played out cautiously in the first few minutes but the hosts slowly outpaced the Pakistani defence. The Indian defenders also did well to restrict Pakistani forward Rehan Butt.
Shivendra gave India the lead in the 25th minute after he sent in a rebound from Pakistan goalkeeper Salman Akbar, who stopped Sandeep Singh’s penalty corner.
Pakistan tried to regroup but it was futile exercise as all hell broke loose and the floodgates opened for India.
Earlier in the day, Spain defeated South Africa 4-2 in an exciting World Cup Hockey opener.
Both teams were tied 2-2 in the first half but Spain outclassed the African champions, scoring two more goals for their first win in the pool B match.
South Africa scored through Julian Hykes (16th) and Ian Haley (30th) while Roc Oliva (19th) and Miquel Delas (20th), Rodrigo Garza (45th) and Pau Quemada (61st) sounded the board for Spain.
But despite the outcome, it was free flowing encounter and both the teams display their flair and creativity in attack.