Pakistan Hockey Makes it to Asian Games Finals After 20 Years

Adil Najam

Pakistan hockey team made it to the finals of the Asian Games after a lapse of 20 years – the last time they did so was also in China in 1990 – with goalkeeper Salman Akbar the hero of the day for saving the last South Korean strike in the semi-finals shootout.

Pakistan will ow play Malaysia in the Finals.

This was a major upset for the South Koreans who won the Asian gold in both the last two games. It was also a meaningful victory for Pakistan because for many observers the ‘fall’ of Pakistan hockey had become visible at around the same time that the rise of the South Koreans had become evident – at the Seoul Asian Games on 1986, where favorites Pakistan had lost and underdogs South Korea had emerged triumphant. Pakistan had then regained the title in the 1990 Beijing Olympics – twenty years ago.

Pakistan will now face Malaysia in the Finals – another upset since India was considered the favorites but lost to Malaysia in their semi-finals game.