Pakistan secured their place in the semi-finals of the men’s hockey tournament at the 20th Asian Games on Monday by defeating Oman 7-2 in their final Pool B match held in Japan. The match took place at Kawasaki Juko Stadium, where Pakistan showcased dominance to conclude their pool stage with four victories out of five games, their sole loss coming against Malaysia.
Sufyan Khan initiated the scoring for Pakistan in the 22nd minute via a penalty corner. Oman’s Al-Bara Al-Nofali equalized six minutes later, but Sufyan quickly restored Pakistan’s lead within the same minute, putting the Green Shirts ahead 2-1. Pakistan then extended their advantage before halftime, entering the break with a 3-1 lead.
In the second half, Rana Waheed Ashraf increased Pakistan’s tally in the 34th minute. Oman’s Mudit Aiman responded with a goal two minutes later, narrowing the gap. However, Pakistan’s Rana Waheed completed his hat-trick, while Ghazanfar Ali and Muhammad Imad also scored, sealing a comprehensive 7-2 triumph.
Earlier in the tournament, Pakistan had secured wins over Thailand, Uzbekistan, and China, with their only defeat being a narrow 5-4 loss to Malaysia on Saturday. In a significant development, the semi-finals are set for October 1, with the bronze and gold medal matches scheduled for October 3.
Pakistan Hockey Federation President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani praised the team’s performance and expressed optimism that they would maintain this momentum heading into the semi-finals. The opponent for Pakistan’s semi-final match will be determined following the conclusion of the pool stage.
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