Abbas Creates World Record as Pakistan Assail India, Lead Series

Penalty corner expert Sohail Abbas reached a world record of 268 goals in international play Friday, leading Pakistan to a 2-1 field hockey victory over India and an unassailable 4-1 lead in their eight-Test series.

The spectators overflowing the 5,000 seats in the Guru Hargobind Stadium in northern India’s Punjab state jumped for joy as Abbas scored in the ninth minute, surpassing Dutchman Paul Litjens’ 267 goals, achieved before he stopped playing in 1982.

Abbas, who had equalled Litjens’ score in an earlier Test in New Delhi, achieved his milestone in 218 international matches.

Abbas had to wait some anxious moments, however, before the goal was finally awarded by neutral umpire Amarjit Singh from Malaysia. Abbas’ full-blooded drag-flick off a penalty corner push by Rehan Butt broke the net. It was so fast that Singh initially thought the ball had sailed over the bar.