India Vs Pakistan, FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2026: Harmanpreet Singh And Co Overcome Defence Woes To Edge Past Rivals
India secured their passage to the second round of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup with a commanding 5-3 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in a high-octane Pool D encounter. Captain Harmanpreet Singh and forward Abhishek spearheaded the attack with two goals apiece, while vice-captain Hardik Singh sealed the result with a clinical penalty stroke. Despite a spirited response from Pakistan—highlighted by a brace from Hannan Shahid and a penalty-corner conversion by Sufyan Khan—the Indian squad maintained composure under immense pressure to defend their lead. Holding firm through a tense final quarter under the watchful eyes of a roaring, packed stadium, India successfully extended their long unbeaten run against their neighbors and wrapped up a crucial win that firmly establishes them as title contenders.
India's Manpreet Singh celebrates with fans after the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
Pakistan's Hannan Shahid scores during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
India's players defend goal during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
India's Hardik Singh and Dilpreet Singh celebrate after scoring during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
India's Mandeep Singh, left, and Pakistan's Ghazanfar Ali fight for the ball during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
Pakistan's Arshad Liaqat, left, and India's Mandeep Singh fight for the ball during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
India's Dilpreet Singh in action during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
India's Sukjeet Singh in action in front of Pakistan's Muhammad Ammad during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
Pakistan's players celebrate after scoring during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
India's Abhishek , left, and Mandeep Singh celebrate after scoring during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
India's Abhishek celebrates after scoring during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
Indian fans during the Pool D match between India and Pakistan at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 at the Wagener Stadion, in Amstelveen, Netherlands. Photo: PTI
Pakistan's players celebrate after scoring during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
India's Rajinder Singh in action in front of Pakistan's Waheed Rana during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
India's players celebrate after scoring during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
India's Lakra Shiland in action in front of Pakistan's Muhammad Abdullah, left. and Umar Mustafa during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
Pakistan's Ammad Butt in action between India's Abhishek, left, and India's Dilpreet Singh during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
Pakistan's Hannan Shahid, left, and India's Hardik Singh fight for the ball during the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands. | Photo: AP/Patrick Post
Published At:
Tags