INCHEON: Pakistan defeated Malaysia in the Men’s Hockey semi-final on Tuesday, enabling the defending champions to face arch-rival India in the final on Thursday October 2.

Pakistan won 6-5 as the match entered the penalty shoot-out stage and is now set to face India — who beat South Korea in the other semi-final — in the final.

India has earned the spot in the finals of the Asian Games after 12 years, when it was defeated by South Korea 4-3 in 2002.

Pakistan defeated India 2-1 earlier on in the group stages, which lifted the Greenshirts to the top of the pool, sealing a place for the defending champions in the semi-finals.

The two teams have clashed in the finals of the Asian Games on eight previous occasions of which Pakistan has won 7.

Having won the World Cups four times in 1971, 78, 82 and 1994, and silver in 1975 and 1990, Pakistan for the first time in the game's history failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2014.

Victory against arch-rival India in the Asian Games final would help in the revival of the game of hockey in Pakistan, which has been strapped for funds in recent years. It will also be a consolation for hockey fans in the country who were left disheartened after Pakistan failed to qualify for the World Cup earlier this year.