Neighbours clash for the crumbs: Pakistan, India hockey in Athens today

Hockey in Athens, tamasha back home. On Wednesday evening, India and Pakistan clash in a minor placings match in the Olympic hockey tournament that, if you go by the response of the expatriate community here, may as well be deciding the gold medal.

Pakistan finished third in group A, and India fourth in group B. The winner of the match will play off for fifth and sixth place. The loser will be relegated to a play-off for seventh and eighth spot. Since Indian and Pakistani migrants have packed the Olympic Hockey Centre at every relevant match so far, the ''big game'' is guaranteed to be a sell-out. It is, Indian team members admit, expected to be a ''tense and emotional'' encounter…