Pakistan dominates China 5-1 to reach Asian Hockey Champions Trophy semi-final

In a commanding performance at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulunbuir, China, the Pakistan hockey team surged into the semi-finals of the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2024 with a resounding 5-1 victory over China on Thursday.

From the outset, Pakistan showcased their dominance, swiftly securing a 2-0 lead by halftime. The team intensified their efforts in the second half, adding three more goals to their tally while conceding just one goal. 

Nadeem Ahmed and Hannan Shahid were pivotal, each netting two goals for Pakistan. China’s sole consolation came from GAO Jiesheng, who scored in the fourth quarter.

This triumph marks Pakistan’s second consecutive win in the tournament. Just a day before, they had edged past Japan with a narrow 2-1 victory in a tense match.

In the group stage, Pakistan had drawn their initial matches, ending 2-2 against both Malaysia and Korea.

The Green Shirts are set to face their traditional rivals, India, in their final pool match on Saturday. India has remained unbeaten throughout the competition, setting the stage for a highly anticipated clash between the two sides.