In Rajinikanth land, the events calendar needs meticulous planning, especially if the occasion is close to the release of a film starring the superstar.
The Tamil film Jailer, featuring Rajinikanth, was released in Chennai on Thursday.
It was believed that the India-Pakistan Asian Champions Trophy hockey match in the Tamil Nadu city on Wednesday would not draw much attraction.
But the 9,000-capacity Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium was packed to the rafters as India beat Pakistan 4-0.
It was the first time the Pakistan hockey team was playing in India since a 2014 Champions Trophy match in Bhubaneswar, which they won.
Considering the pre-match excitement, the outcome was an anti-climax as India were far superior on the artificial turf, hammering in goals at will.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored twice, with both goals coming from penalty corners. Jugraj Singh converted another penalty corner in the third-quarter, while Akashdeep Singh hammered the final goal, tapping in a ball from Mandeep Singh in the final-quarter.
India finished as the leaders after the group stage encounters, while Pakistan were eliminated from the tournament.
The result was not much of a surprise as Pakistan, once a major force in world hockey, have been on a downward slide over the past decade.
They have missed Olympics and World Cups, and fallen to as low as No. 16 in the current world rankings – mainly caused by poor administration, lack of planning and insufficient government support and funds.
The last time Pakistan won against India, who are currently ranked No. 4 in the world, was at the 2016 South-Asian Games, where India sent a developmental side with little expectations.
In the last five years, since their Asian Games 2018 face-off, there have been six matches between the two neighbours, with India winning five and one ending in a draw.
“These boys have nothing to lose, they will only learn from it,” said former striker and Pakistan assistant coach Rehan Butt before the match against India on Wednesday.
“Till now, with the little experience that the players have had, they have played excellently. Many are saying that after a long time, Pakistan’s attacking hockey is on show.”
With an inexperienced side that the Pakistan team management has already declared will be retained at next month’s Asian Games, every game is a learning process for the side.
But it is also important for the team to play regularly against India to raise their standards and that of Asian hockey, asserted Butt.
India captain Harmanpreet endorsed that idea.
And with players from both India and Pakistan supporting more games between the two sides, Hockey India (HI) on Wednesday indicated it could look into bilateral matches in the near future.
“There will be more India-Pakistan matches. It won’t happen immediately after today’s game, of course, but it will, at both senior and junior levels,” HI secretary-general Bhola Nath Singh declared.
If India fail to win gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, next month, they will have to play in Pakistan to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The International Hockey Federation last month confirmed that China, Pakistan and Spain will host the Olympic Qualifiers from Jan 13 to 21 next year.
Bhola reiterated HI’s stance that the team will travel to Pakistan if needed for the Olympics qualifiers. “The government has made it very clear that there won’t be any problem in major multi-nation events.”
“India’s Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said very clearly that the Indian team will not be stopped from going anywhere to play an important tournament,” he added.
“I don’t think the Indian government will say no to sending a team for such an important tournament as the Olympic qualifiers.
“If needed, I will speak to the government. After all, it is a question of the Olympics. I don’t think there will be any hindrance to this. The rest is up to the Pakistan government and how they organise a tournament.
“How is the security there? Pakistan team is coming here to play, so why can’t we (go)?”
Indo-Asian News Service
