Pakistan secured a spot in the semi-finals of the Men’s Junior Hockey Asia Cup by defeating Malaysia 4-1 in Oman on Sunday night.
Sufiyan Khan delivered a hat-trick, sealing Pakistan’s victory and their place in the semi-finals. They will face Japan in the first semi-final on Tuesday at 5:30 PM Pakistan Standard Time. The second semi-final between India and Malaysia is scheduled for 8:00 PM.
The final will take place the following day, Wednesday.
This win also guarantees Pakistan a place in the 2025 Junior World Cup, held in India.
Pakistan outplayed Malaysia in the match, which was a Group B clash. Sufiyan scored just three minutes into the game, putting Pakistan ahead, and the first quarter ended 1-0.
In the 23rd minute, Adam Ashraf Johari equalized for Malaysia, but Pakistan regained control. Sufiyan’s brilliant goal in the 35th minute restored Pakistan’s lead, and Abdul Qayyum extended it to 3-1 in the final quarter.
With just seconds left, Sufiyan scored again, completing his hat-trick and securing a dominant 4-1 win. The scoreline seemed likely to stay at 3-1, but Sufiyan’s final strike sealed the game.
This victory marked Pakistan’s fourth consecutive win in the tournament, having previously defeated China, Bangladesh, and Oman. With 12 points from four matches, Pakistan is poised for a strong finish.
