HANGZHOU: In a closely contested match, Japan’s hockey team emerged victorious with a 3-2 win over Pakistan, ending Pakistan’s chances of advancing to the semifinals of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Pakistan needed a win against Japan in their final group stage match to stay in contention for the semis, but fell short of the mark.
Arshad Liaquat gave Pakistan an early lead in the fifth minute with a goal, but Japan quickly responded with two goals from Tanaka Kaito and Fukuda Kentaro in the sixth and 17th minutes, respectively, taking control of the match. Fujishima Raiki extended Japan’s lead to 3-1 in the 28th minute. Pakistan fought back, with Arbaz Ahmad scoring a goal, but despite their efforts, the match ended 3-2 in Japan’s favor.
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19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Men's Hockey Competition#AsianGames#Hangzhou2022#asiahockey pic.twitter.com/prH9QeAUWW— Asian Hockey Federation (@asia_hockey) October 2, 2023
With this loss, Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the semifinals were dashed. They will now face the team in third place in Pool B for the fifth and sixth position on October 6.
Pakistan Hocket Team’s Journey in Asian Games
In the aftermath of Pakistan’s 10-2 defeat against India on Saturday, Pakistan’s head coach and team manager, Saeed Khan, publicly apologized to the nation. He expressed his regret for the embarrassing defeat and highlighted the absence of adequate support staff as a significant challenge for the team. Saeed emphasized the need for financial security and investment in hockey development in Pakistan, citing the stark contrast with India’s substantial investment in their hockey program.
It is worth noting that Pakistan began the Asian Games strongly with convincing victories against Singapore, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan. However, their journey in the tournament has come to an end after the defeat against Japan, leaving them to compete for the fifth and sixth position in the upcoming matches.
