South Asian Games: Pakistan to face India in final

Thrash Bangladesh 6-0 in hockey semi-final.

KARACHI: Pakistan Whites thrashed Bangladesh 6-0 in the semi-final of the event of the South Asian Games to set up a mouth-watering final clash with arch-rivals India on Wednesday.

Goals from Awaisur Rahman, Arsalan Qadir, Umer Bhutta, Tasawer Abbas and Aleem Bilal ensured that Pakistan stay on track to defend their crown in the regional mega event.

Qadir, while speaking to The Express Tribune after the match, remains confident of the team’s chances. “We have worked on different strategies with the coaches and video analysts and will be looking to win by a bigger margin than the last clash [where they prevailed 2-1 over their rivals,” he said.

Maratib, Maaz bag a gold medal apiece.



Syed Maratib Ali and Maaz Khan won gold medals in wushu 65kg and 70kg category on Wednesday to take Pakistan’s gold medal tally to seven.

With the commencement of the fifth day of the Games, Pakistan now have seven gold, 20 silver and 32 bronze medals.

Meanwhile, Pakistan won two silver medals in the men’s sanshou 52kg and 75kg along with three bronze medals in the women’s taijiquan and taijijian, sanshou 60kg and 70kg.

Aisamul Haq Qureshi lost in the semi-final of the men’s individual and mixed-doubles tennis event, along with Ushna Suhail, to claim bronze.

In squash, Maria Toorpakay Wazir, Sadia Gul and Sammer Anjum lost the final of women’s team event and Nasir Iqbal, Farhan Zaman and Danish Atlas Khan lost in the men’s team event to claim a silver medal each.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th,  2016.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.