Arch-rivals India and Pakistan face off in a mouth-watering field hockey final at the Asian Games on Thursday with a place in the 2016 Olympics at stake.
Millions of fans in both nations will be glued to their television screens for the title clash which earns the winner a ticket to Rio de Janeiro and the loser left facing a hazardous qualification route.
India and Pakistan last met in an Asiad final way back at New Delhi in 1982 where the Indians suffered a stunning 1-7 rout in front of their hown fans that included then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Eight-time Olympic champions India have won the Asiad title just twice, both in the Thai capital of Bangkok in 1966 and 1998.
In contrast, defending champions Pakistan are the most successful team in the continental games with eight gold’s, highlighted by four successive wins over India in a final from 1970 to 1982.
Pakistan, coached by former international Shahnaz Sheikh, start as favourites following their 2-1 win over India in the preliminary league.
India upset hosts South Korea 1-0 in the semi-final through Akashdeep Singh’s 44th minute winner, but face a tougher test against Pakistan’s goalkeeper Imran Butt, the star of the shoot-out win against Malaysia.
