Pakistan Rally Past South Korea 5-3 to Claim Asian Games Hockey Bronze

Pakistan Rally Past South Korea 5-3 to Claim Asian Games Hockey Bronze

NAGOYA: Pakistan produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat South Korea 5-3 and claim the Asian Games hockey bronze medal at the 20th Asian Games in Japan on Saturday.

Trailing 3-1 at half-time, the Green Shirts scored four unanswered goals after the break to turn the bronze-medal match on its head and secure a place on the podium.

It is Pakistan’s first Asian Games hockey medal since the silver at Incheon 2014, ending a 12-year wait for a podium finish at the continental Games.

Asian Games hockey bronze: how Pakistan turned it around

Pakistan made the perfect start when Sufyan Khan converted a penalty corner in the fourth minute. South Korea hit back through Lee Gangsan in the 12th minute, and the Koreans took control in the second quarter with goals from Kim Yongbok in the 18th minute and Yang Jihun in the 25th.

Facing a 3-1 deficit at the interval, Pakistan regrouped. Abdul Rehman pulled one back to make it 3-2, and a scoreless third quarter kept the contest finely poised heading into the final 15 minutes.

The decisive phase belonged to Rana Waheed Ashraf. He brought Pakistan level in the 52nd minute and struck again two minutes later to complete the turnaround and put his side 4-3 ahead. South Korea pushed for an equaliser, but Pakistan held firm before Hannan Shahid found the net in the 59th minute to seal the 5-3 triumph.

Dominant numbers behind the win

Pakistan finished with 57 per cent possession and earned nine penalty corners to South Korea’s five, underlining their second-half dominance.

Sufyan Khan, who opened the scoring, finished the tournament as Pakistan’s top scorer with 11 goals, all from penalty corners. Rana Waheed’s brace took his tournament tally to seven.

The bronze-medal playoff is contested by the two losing semi-finalists, and Pakistan’s response after missing out on the final spoke of the squad’s character.

What the medal means

For a side that has struggled to reclaim its place among Asia’s elite, the bronze carries real weight. Pakistan’s last Asian Games hockey gold came at Guangzhou 2010, and the programme has spent the years since chasing a return to the podium.

The manner of the win, a comeback from two goals down against organised opposition, will encourage the team’s supporters ahead of the Hockey World Cup qualifying cycle.

Frequently asked questions

What was the score in the Asian Games hockey bronze-medal match?

Pakistan beat South Korea 5-3 in the men’s hockey bronze-medal match at the 20th Asian Games in Japan on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

Who scored for Pakistan against South Korea?

Sufyan Khan opened the scoring in the fourth minute, Abdul Rehman pulled one back to make it 3-2, Rana Waheed Ashraf struck twice in the 52nd and 54th minutes, and Hannan Shahid sealed the win in the 59th minute.

When did Pakistan last win an Asian Games hockey medal?

Pakistan’s previous Asian Games hockey medal was the silver at Incheon 2014. Their last gold came at Guangzhou 2010.