Japan take the wind out of Pakistan sails with 1-0 victory

Malaysia stun defending champions India in penalty shoot-out

Muhammad Ali



JAKARTA: Japan took the wind out of Pakistan sails when they defeated the former champions 1-0 in Asian Games 2018 hockey tournament at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium here Thursday, disqualifying the country from reaching the finals. With this humiliating defeat against the minnows, all the tall claims made by the incompetent Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) officials bit the dust. Pakistan had entered the semi-finals as the top team of Group B after beating Thailand, Oman, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh and Malaysia. But Pakistan were shocked as Japan came like a bolt from the blue. In the first semi-final, Malaysia managed to defeat India after a penalty shootout. Pakistan and India will be competing for the bronze medal. Japan twice reached the victory stand, bronze in 1966 and 1970. In the previous Asian Games, they might be considered unlucky as on no less than seven times, Japan finished fourth. They attained fifth spot twice and ended sixth on four occasions. Pakistan are of course the most successful team with eight gold, three silver and three bronze medals. Pakistan’s performance in the Asian Games 2018 has been swept a way of disappointment over the country as it finished in the last four with only three medals, amongst the 37 participating countries, just above Afghanistan, Myanmar and Syria.