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There is some good news for the Pakistan hockey fans after their senior men’s team’s disappointing bottom-placed finish in the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament held in Ipoh, Malaysia. What would have rubbed more salt to the fans’ wounds was the fact that they had to settle for a wooden spoon finish, losing to arch-rivals India.
But the pall of disappointment would be a thing of the past now that the Pakistan colts have made the country proud by winning the second Asia Cup under-16 five-a-side hockey crown, upstaging their continental neighbours Bangladesh in the final showdown at the Sengkang Hockey Stadium in Singapore.
The Greenshirts cruised to a title win, thumping Bangladesh 5-2. Muhammad Atiq drew first blood in the first half before doubling the lead a little later.
Sikandar Mustafa fired the third goal for the Pakistan under-16 side, while Shan Irshad slammed home the fourth.
Bangladesh responded with two goals but Adeel Latif literally put the result beyond Pakistan, sounding the board for the team’s fifth goal.
The win caps off an impressive performance by the Pakistan colts, who were coached by Olympians Tahir Zaman and Rehan Butt for this tournament.
Earlier in the semifinals, Pakistan colts routed Malaysia 6-0. In-form Mohammad Atiq was in the thick of things, rattling the opposition cage twice. Sikandar Mustafa augmented the lead, before Nohaiz Zahid Malik scored the team’s fourth goal.
Shan Irshad compounded the Malaysian woes, scoring the fifth goal before Junaid Manzoor rounded off the tally with the sixth strike.
In all, ten countries took part in the five-a-side tournament. Besides Pakistan and Bangladesh, other participating teams were Japan, China, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Kazakhstan.
Pakistan, who were clubbed in Pool A alongside Japan, China, Sri Lanka and and Chinese Taipei, enjoyed resounding wins over all their opponents.
The Pakistan under-16 side kickstarted their campaign bulldozing Chinese Taipei 16-1. Muhammad Atiq was the star of the show, scoring five goals, while Shan Irshad and captain Nohaid Zahid Malik chipped in with four and three goals respectively.
Pakistan then crushed China 18-1 with Mohammad Atiq in rampaging form, blasting a double hat-trick.
The Greenshirts made it three wins out of three spanking Japan 7-4. The Pakistan colts then wrapped up their league engagements walloping Sri Lanka 12-3 to march into the semifinals where they conquered Malaysia and later Bangladesh in the final to corner glory.
