KUALA LUMPUR: Pakis­tan registered their first win in the ongoing FIH Nations Cup 2025 with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Japan at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium on Monday.

The Green Shirts opened the scoring early in the first quarter through Ghazanfar Ali, whose powerful strike gave Pakistan an early advantage. However, the lead was short-lived as Japan hit back almost immediately, with Kazumasa Matsumoto slotting in the equaliser barely a minute later.

Japan then seized the momentum, with Koji Yamasaki netting a superb goal to put his side 2-1 ahead by the end of the opening quarter.

Undeterred by the deficit, Pakistan regrouped and mounted a determined offensive in the second quarter, though Japan’s defence held firm to preserve their lead. It was in the third quarter that Pakistan’s persistence paid off, as Rana Waheed Ashraf brought parity to the contest with a timely goal.

With the scores level and both sides eyeing a late winner, it was Sufyan Khan who emerged as the hero for Pakistan, striking eight minutes from time to seal a crucial victory.

A day earlier, Pakistan and Malaysia played out a pulsating 3-3 draw in their opening fixture of the Nations Cup, with the Green Shirts relinquishing a lead late in the match.

Pakistan will now face New Zealand on Wednesday.

The FIH Nations Cup features eight teams split across two pools, with Pool A comprising France, Korea, South Africa, and Wales, and Pool B including Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Pakistan.

The top sides from each pool will advance to the semi-finals scheduled for June 20, with the final and third-place play-off set to take place on June 21.

The Nations Cup serves as a qualification pathway to the elite FIH Hockey Pro League, with the winner earning promotion to the 2025–26 season.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2025