NAGOYA: Pakistan produced an impressive performance at the ongoing Asian Games hockey tournament in Japan, defeating Oman 7–2 in the quarterfinal to secure their place in the semifinals of the mega event.
Pakistan maintained pressure on their opponents from the opening whistle. Their aggressive approach paid off as the Green Shirts went into halftime with a 2–1 lead.
The Pakistani side stepped up the intensity after the break, launching wave after wave of attacks and dismantling Oman’s defence to complete a convincing 7–2 victory.
Standout Performances
The national team’s forwards played a pivotal role in the emphatic win.
Rana Waheed delivered a superb performance, scoring a hat-trick.
Sufyan Khan displayed excellent stick work and netted two goals.
Ghazanfarr Ali and Muhammad Imad scored one goal each to contribute to Pakistan’s comprehensive victory.
Pakistan’s Journey in the Tournament
Pakistan have put together a strong campaign in Pool B.
The Green Shirts finished second in the pool with 12 points.
Malaysia topped Pool B with 15 points.
Pakistan won four of their five pool matches, with their only defeat coming against Malaysia.
Pakistan’s forward line scored 28 goals in the pool matches, while the team conceded just eight goals.
Semifinal Line-Up Confirmed
Following Pakistan’s crucial victory over Oman and the conclusion of Malaysia’s final match, the semifinal line-up for the Asian Games hockey competition has been confirmed.
First Semifinal: Pakistan will face traditional rivals India on October 1.
Second Semifinal: Malaysia will take on Korea on October 1.
In another important Pool A encounter, Korea defeated Japan 3–2. India had already secured the top spot in the group on the basis of a superior goal difference.
