Pakistan record first victory in Asian Champions Trophy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan held on to their nerves to beat Japan 2-1 in the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulunbuir (China). After 10 years of long wait, Pakistan went on to beat Japan in any major hockey event. Pakistan showcased their resilience as they secured a 2-1 victory over Japan, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the tournament.

Ahmad Nadeem (10’) and Sufyan Khan (21’) led the charge with goals, while Raiki Fujishima (28’) scored the lone goal for Japan. Pakistan’s defense, led by goalkeeper Ishtiaq Abdullah Khan, held strong against Japan’s relentless attacks, particularly in the final quarter where Japan earned 12 penalty corners but failed to capitalize.

Pakistan are now second in the pool standings, just behind India. Sufyan Khan, named hero of the match, said: “We defended with all our heart and I’m glad I could score when the team needed it the most.”

In a stunning display of dominance, India powered through Malaysia with an 8-1 victory. Rajkumar Pal’s hat-trick (3’, 25’, 33’) led India’s charge, supported by goals from Araijeet Singh Hundal (6’, 39’), Jugraj Singh (7’), Captain Harmanpreet Singh (22’), and Uttam Singh (40’).

India team remained in control throughout the match, converting multiple penalty corners and keeping Malaysia at bay. Despite a late goal by Akhimullah Anuar (34’), Malaysia couldn’t match India’s firepower.

“We’re here to win every game,” said Hero of the Match, Araijeet Singh Hundal. “This victory is a testament to our focus and determination.” Meanwhile, Korea kept their semi-final hopes alive with a nail-biting 3-2 win against China.

Hyeonhong Kim (21’), Junghoo Kim (53’), and Jihun Yang (55’) found the back of the net for Korea, while China’s Jiesheng Gao (14’) and Ziyang Huang (60’) fought back valiantly in front of their home crowd.

Despite China’s efforts, including a last-minute penalty corner, Korea’s defense stood firm to secure the win. Jungjun Lee, Hero of the Match, expressed his team’s delight saying: “This was a hard-fought victory, and we’re proud to keep our chances of a semifinal spot alive.”

As the tournament progresses, India lead the table with three consecutive wins, while Pakistan and Korea remain strong contenders. The action continues, with all eyes on the teams as they push towards the semi-finals.