Pakistan boast of having Sohail Abbas, who is rated as the world’s most lethal executioner of the drag flick stroke with a total of 312 goals. On the Malaysian side is Mohd Amin Rahim, who has 65 goals to his name from 190 international matches.
At the Guangzhou Asian Games, the 33-year-old Sohail has scored six goals in five matches while Amin has five.
The 30-year-old Amin was the toast for Malaysia in the semi-final against India on Tuesday, scoring two goals to take his team to a 4-3 win.
He saved the match for Malaysia by equalising three minutes from regulation time and then went on to score the golden goal to put Malaysia through to their first-ever final in the Asian Games.
Pakistan qualified for the final when they defeated defending champions South Korea 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out after both teams were tied at 1-1 after extra time.
Amin is all fired up to deliver the goals against Pakistan.
“Sohail may be the world’s top scorer but I want to prove that I am just as good in the drag flick,” he said yesterday.
“Guangzhou will be my last Asian Games and it will be nice if we can go all the way and win the gold medal. If we make it, we will also get a ticket to the 2012 London Olympics.
“I have represented the national team since 2002 but I have never played in the Olympics or the World Cup (Malaysia last featured in the Olympics in Sydney in 2000).”
Amin made his Asiad debut at the 2002 Games in Busan and Malaysia won the bronze medal, beating Pakistan 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 deadlock in extra time.
He added that Malaysia had beaten Pakistan before in the Asian Games and that they certainly had the ability to do it again.
“We have already created history by reaching the final. It is in our hands to better the record,” said Amin.
“Pakistan beat us 4-1 at the Delhi Commonwealth Games last month. They have skilful forwards in Rehan (Butt) and Shakeel (Abbasi) and we have to play a very tight marking game against them.”
Amin said that the players were in high spirits to spring yet another surprise in the Guangzhou Games.
“No one gave us a chance to reach the final after our dismal outing in the Commonwealth Games.
“But we now have a shot at the gold medal,” said Amin.
Meanwhile, Sohail said that they expected a tough match against Malaysia.
“Malaysia have beaten us a few times in recent years. They also have a good penalty corner flicker in Amin,” he said.
“I was recalled to the team after Pakistan’s poor outing in the Commonwealth Games. I hope to deliver the goals to help Pakistan win the Asian Games gold and a ticket to the London Olympics.”
Star
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