In a commanding start to their Asian Games hockey journey, Pakistan overwhelmed Thailand with a 9-0 victory in their opening Pool B match held at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Kakamigahara, Japan.
From the beginning, Pakistan maintained control, scoring in every quarter and applying relentless pressure on the Thai side. Moeen Shakeel initiated the scoring in the eighth minute, followed by Ammad Butt who doubled the lead just four minutes later.
Ahmed Nadeem was the standout performer, completing a hat-trick with field goals in the 20th, 37th, and 43rd minutes, firmly establishing Pakistan’s dominance in the match.
Pakistan continued their offensive onslaught throughout the game, adding more goals to seal a comprehensive 9-0 win without conceding any goals.
This victory awards Pakistan three points in Pool B, which also includes Malaysia, China, Oman, Uzbekistan, and Thailand. Their next encounter is scheduled against Uzbekistan on September 22, followed by matches against China on September 24, Malaysia on September 26, and Oman on September 28.
The men’s hockey event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games runs from September 18 to October 3, featuring 12 teams split into two pools. Notably, this tournament doubles as the continental qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with the Asian Games champion securing a coveted Olympic spot.
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