India, Aug. 19 -- India entered the contest against Pakistan as the clear favourites, and the side displayed to the world why the divide between the two rivals on the hockey turf is widening. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh led from the front in the crucial Group D encounter to help India defeat Pakistan 5-3 to seal the qualification for the next round in the Men's Hockey World Cup. With this result, England and India became the two teams to qualify from Group D, while Pakistan were sent packing.

Heading into the contest, England made the task easy for India. With England winning against Wales, only a draw was needed for India to qualify for the next round. While nothing less than a victory would have been enough for Pakistan. Before the conte...