Asian Champions Trophy (Hockey): India vs Pakistan, 20:30 IST, Chennai

[spiritb2]

15 hours ago, Gollum said:

Ravichandran Ashwin was one of the chief guests for today's match. As expected Stalin and Stalin Jr. were present and the announcer was kind enough to let us know how Stalin had brought an FIH event to Chennai after 16 years. 

 

 

Did Stalin and Stalin Jr. waited till hearing the roaring "Vande Mataram" from chennai as well ??

[Gollum]

1 hour ago, spiritb2 said:

 

 

Did Stalin and Stalin Jr. waited till hearing the roaring "Vande Mataram" from chennai as well ??

Vande Mataram was during halftime show. DJ played the song and everyone joined in. Stalin and his son were definitely there during half time.

[Vijy]

19 hours ago, Gollum said:

Ravichandran Ashwin was one of the chief guests for today's match. As expected Stalin and Stalin Jr. were present and the announcer was kind enough to let us know how Stalin had brought an FIH event to Chennai after 16 years. 

real question: was OG Stalin there too?

[Vijy]

19 hours ago, Gollum said:

Gulf between India and Pak in all non-cricket sports is so huge now.

 

Thinking about how our shoopershtar cricketers soil their pants at the mere sight of Pak players, kya hi bolu ab?

we are thrashing them everywhere, as we should. it's just in cricket where the soopershtars turn into jellies

[wazza]

17 hours ago, Vijy said:

we are thrashing them everywhere, as we should. it's just in cricket where the soopershtars turn into jellies

Pick right players we will own them in cricket as well. Just need to drop ro ro, kolhi and the gang. Get the young bloods in and they will smack them senseless. 

[Gollum]

India beat Japan 5-0 in the SF 

 

Final vs Malaysia tomorrow, we beat them 5-0 as well in the group stage. 

Edited August 11, 2023 by Gollum

[Gollum]

Ind, Pak drawn in the same group in Asian Games. At this rate Pakistan military will soon ban hockey, aur kitna zaleel honge 

[Vijy]

3 hours ago, Gollum said:

Ind, Pak drawn in the same group in Asian Games. At this rate Pakistan military will soon ban hockey, aur kitna zaleel honge 

we should face them 5-6 times a year, and thrash them every time. it will be nice after all the stuff of 70s and 80s.

[MechEng]

@Gollum's passion to beak Pakistan is unparalleled. Reckon he would have taken a fifer had he played a match against Pakistan recently. 

[Norman]

Amazing how hockey despite not being the number 1 sport of any country has so many active playing nations that too with local home grown players. Rugby and cricket are followed much more religiously in many parts but are nowhere as global as Field Hockey. 

 

 

Probably the only true global team sport other than Soccer...

[Lone Wolf]

2 minutes ago, Norman said:

Amazing how hockey despite not being the number 1 sport of any country has so many active playing nations that too with local home grown players. Rugby and cricket are followed much more religiously in many parts but are nowhere as global as Field Hockey. 

 

 

Probably the only true global team sport other than Soccer...

Maybe coz its a lot physical team based sport that it got decent fan following in Anglo & European countries. 

[Norman]

Also is it safe to say that we are currently the best Asian Hockey team? @Gollum @Lone Wolf @LordPrabhzy

 

I remember Malaysia used to be good a few years ago where we lost a few finals to them. Pakistan are down the gutter and the likes of Japan or korea don't seem to be as good .

[Lone Wolf]

3 minutes ago, Norman said:

Also is it safe to say that we are currently the best Asian Hockey team? @Gollum @Lone Wolf @LordPrabhzy

 

I remember Malaysia used to be good a few years ago where we lost a few finals to them. Pakistan are down the gutter and the likes of Japan or korea don't seem to be as good .

Yes pretty much...  Asian Games Gold should be priority as well. 

[Gollum]

2 hours ago, Norman said:

Also is it safe to say that we are currently the best Asian Hockey team? @Gollum @Lone Wolf @LordPrabhzy

 

I remember Malaysia used to be good a few years ago where we lost a few finals to them. Pakistan are down the gutter and the likes of Japan or korea don't seem to be as good .

Easily, will hold true even if we don't win today's final or Asian Games gold. 

 

We are the only Asian side that can regularly compete with the top European sides. Rankings have us as world #4, IMO we will hover between #3 to #6 in the near future, and will always be a medal contender in the biggest events. Winning a medal means going through at least one among Aus/Bel/Neth/Ger, so quite a big task. In Tokyo we beat Ger in the bronze medal match, right now Germans are WC trophy holders. In Rio unluckily we ran into Bel one round earlier than we should have, in the QF, GD in group stage screwed us over.

 

We should make a deep run in Paris as well.

Edited August 12, 2023 by Gollum

[Vijy]

6 hours ago, Gollum said:

Easily, will hold true even if we don't win today's final or Asian Games gold. 

 

We are the only Asian side that can regularly compete with the top European sides. Rankings have us as world #4, IMO we will hover between #3 to #6 in the near future, and will always be a medal contender in the biggest events. Winning a medal means going through at least one among Aus/Bel/Neth/Ger, so quite a big task. In Tokyo we beat Ger in the bronze medal match, right now Germans are WC trophy holders. In Rio unluckily we ran into Bel one round earlier than we should have, in the QF, GD in group stage screwed us over.

 

We should make a deep run in Paris as well.

yes, on a given day, even a no. 4/5 squad can win the WC or olympics. we need to hope that stars align, that good coaches and players are selected (minimize nepo stuff), etc

[Lord]

Good win

[Vijy]

1 minute ago, Lord said:

Good win

choked hard at first, but scratched their way back to a win

[Lord]

Just now, Vijy said:

choked hard at first, but scratched their way back to a win

 

that's okay. Important thing is to finish well.

[Vijy]

Just now, Lord said:

 

that's okay. Important thing is to finish well.

yes, we don't want premature "stuff"

[Gollum]

Just now left the stadium. Entertaining game, electrifying atmosphere. Satisfying way to spend a Saturday evening/night. Even Jap vs Korea was fun. Amazing weather, thankfully rain stopped by 6.