Pakistan hockey claim comeback bronze at Asian Games

GIFU (Agencies): Pakistan’s hockey team produced a brilliant come-from-behind victory to claim bronze at the Asian Games, beating South Korea 5-3 at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium on Saturday. The medal in hockey arrived a day after heartbreak against bitter rivals India, who edged Pakistan 4-3 in a dramatic semi-final to advance to the gold-medal match against Malaysia. Pakistan could not have started the bronze playoff better. Penalty corner specialist Sufyan Khan gave them the lead inside four minutes, converting from a set piece to make it 1-0. The lead did not last, though — Shakeel Moin picked up a yellow card in the seventh minute, and with Pakistan a man short, South Korea levelled through Gangsan Lee in the 12th minute. Korea then took control, with Yongbok Kim putting them ahead in the 18th minute before Jihun Yang doubled their advantage to make it 3-1 in the 25th. Pakistan pulled one back right on the stroke of half-time, Abdul Rehman converting a penalty corner to make it 3-2 and keep the contest alive. South Korea threatened to pull clear again early in the third quarter — Yang had an effort saved, and Lee spurned a clear chance — while at the other end Pakistan pushed for an equaliser without reward.

Abu Mahmood saw a penalty-corner effort saved, Mohammad Ammad had a shot stopped by Korean goalkeeper Jaehyeon Kim, and Pakistan were unable to convert two further penalty corners before the quarter ended with them still trailing 3-2. Korea looked to be closing the match out early in the fourth quarter, with Yang twice going close from penalty corners, but Pakistan refused to fold. Rana Waheed levelled the match at 3-3 with a field goal in the 52nd minute, and with under seven minutes left on the clock, struck again from a penalty corner to put Pakistan ahead for the first time since the opening quarter. Hannan Shahid added gloss to the win with a further goal in the 59th minute, sealing a 5-3 victory and the bronze medal. The result marks a notable recovery for a team that last won Asian Games hockey gold in 2010 and silver in 2014, giving Pakistan something to build on after Friday’s narrow semi-final defeat to India.