KUALA LUMPUR: Pakistan secured a place in the final of the FIH Hockey Nations Cup after defeating France 3-2 in a penalty shootout following a 3-3 draw in regulation time during the first semi-final match on Friday.
The match was a tense affair, with Pakistan and France both battling hard throughout the game. The national team’s performance was lauded by the International Hockey Federation, which praised their “excellent goals in the second half” and the “amazing goalkeeping in the shootout.”
Rana Waheed Ashraf was named the man of the match, and his efforts were key in securing Pakistan’s victory. Afraz Hakeem, Sufyan Khan, and Muhammad Hammaduddin all scored for Pakistan during regular play.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President, Mir Tariq Hussain Bugti, and Secretary General, Olympian Rana Mujahid Ali Khan, congratulated the national team on their victory and wished them the best for the final.
The final match of the tournament will be played on Saturday, and Pakistan will face either New Zealand or South Korea, who will compete in the second semi-final scheduled for 6 pm PKT. The tournament winner will secure promotion to the prestigious FIH Hockey Pro League for the 2025-26 season.
Pakistan’s journey to the semi-finals was marked by a 3-2 win over Japan and a 3-3 draw against host nation Malaysia.
Their only loss in the group stage came at the hands of New Zealand in a narrow 4-3 encounter. Despite this loss, Pakistan advanced to the semi-finals due to a superior goal difference over Malaysia, who finished with four points, the same as Pakistan.
