Pakistan secured their third consecutive victory in the Asian Games hockey competition on Monday, defeating China 3-0 in a dominant group-stage display.
Second-Quarter Blitz Settles the Contest
Captain Abu Bakr Sufyan Khan and Hannan Shahid found the net for Pakistan, with all three goals arriving in a decisive second quarter that broke the match open.
The result lifts Pakistan to nine points in the group standings, placing them second behind Malaysia on goal difference.
Pakistan’s Group-Stage Record
- Thailand: defeated 9-0
- Uzbekistan: defeated 5-1
- China: defeated 3-0
Waheed Ashraf Sits Out Suspension
Pakistan were without forward Rana Waheed Ashraf, who served a one-match suspension following an incident involving his hockey stick and an Uzbek player in the earlier fixture.
Despite his absence, Pakistan’s attack proved too strong for China, keeping the side firmly in contention at the top of the group.
