MUSCAT: Pakistan are still alive and sticking. Their bid to reach this year’s Olympic Games in Paris continues.

A 3-3 draw with Malaysia was achieved, thanks to Rana Waheed Ashraf’s late field goal at the Oman Hockey Stadium.

The match saw Pakistan secure second spot in Pool ‘A’ of the FIH Olympic Qualifiers, setting up a semi-final against Pool ‘B’ winners Germany. The top three teams at the tournament will secure a spot at the Olympics.

Three-time Olympic cha­m­pions Pakistan have fai­led to qualify for the last two editions of the Games but will now get two cha­nces to end that drought.

A victory in the semi-final will punch their ticket to Paris but even if they lose to Germany, they can reach the Olympics with a victory in the third-place match. Pakistan had opened with a 6-1 thrashing by Gre­at Britain, but Shahnaz She­ikh’s men revived their hop­es with a 2-0 win over China in their second game.

Britain’s 6-0 win over China earlier on Thursday put Pakistan in pole position to take second spot but they were made to work hard by Malaysia, who had lost both their opening games and needed a win to have any chance of finishing second.

Fitri Saari opened the scoring for Malaysia with a field goal in the 20th minute, only for Sufyan Khan’s drag-flick to draw Pakistan level three minutes later.

But Malaysia regained the lead on the stroke of half-time with Abu Kamal Azrai converting a penalty corner.

Ammad Butt’s solo str­ike, when he dribbled past several players to fire in four minutes after the res­tart, drew Pakistan level but Malaysia ended the third quarter with their lead restored, despite Abd­ullah Ishtiaq saving a penalty stroke, after Firhan Ashari found the cage in the 40th.

However, Waheed ensu­red Pakistan lived to fight another day after he slammed a field goal eight minutes from time.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2024