Pakistan trounce Japan 26-1 5s Asia Cup

In a stunning display of skill and dominance, the Pakistan hockey team Saturday commenced their journey in the five-a-side Asia Cup with an unprecedented victory, outscoring Japan 26-1 in their opening match held in Salalah, Oman.

This remarkable achievement places Pakistan at the forefront of the competition, setting the stage for an exhilarating series of matches in the ongoing tournament.

Undoubtedly, Pakistan's players exhibited an extraordinary level of sportsmanship, swiftly establishing their supremacy on the field from the opening whistle.

Led by their captain, Rana Abdul Waheed Ashraf, who was later awarded the well-deserved title of Man of the Match, the team demonstrated a remarkable combination of speed, coordination, and strategy that left their opponents struggling to keep up.

Guiding this impressive performance was the expertise of Head Coach Waseem Feroze, a Gold Medalist in the World Hockey Cup and a recipient of the prestigious Pride of Performance award. Assisting him in the management of the team was Major R Muhammad Shahnawaz Khan, the dedicated Team Manager.

The scoreboard illuminated Pakistan's relentless assault, with a distribution of goals that showcased the team's diverse strengths.

Notably, captain Rana Abdul Waheed Ashraf secured an astounding 8 goals, while other key contributors included Zakaria Hayat with 3 goals, Arshad Liaquat with 5 goals, Muhammad Abdullah with 3 goals, Abdul Rehman with 2 goals, Abdul Wahab with 2 goals, and Murtaza Yaqoob with 2 goals. Ehtisham Aslam rounded off the scoring with 1 goal. Japan's single response came from Tenny Nautka.

The Pakistan five-a-side hockey team's lineup reflected a balance of skill and position expertise, comprising Abdullah Ishtiaq Khan and Ali Raza as goalkeepers, Muhammad Abdullah as a defender, Ehtsham Aslam and Muhammad Murtaza Yaqoob as midfields, and Arshad Liaquat, Zakaria Hayat, Rana Abdul Waheed Ashraf, Abdul Rehman, and Abdul Wahab as strikers.

The five-sided Asia Cup witnesses the participation of 11 teams, including arch-rivals India, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Iran, Bangladesh, Hong Kong China, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and the host country Oman. With this resounding victory, Pakistan has firmly established itself as a force to be reckoned with, promising an electrifying tournament ahead.