JAKARTA: Record eight-time champions Pakistan began their quest for another Asian Games hockey gold with a 10-0 hammering of Thailand here on Monday.
Riding on a hat-trick by Atiq Arshad here at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, Pakistan were imperious in their opening Pool ‘B’ match.
Atiq’s brother Tauseeq, Mohammad Irfan and Abu Bakr all scored twice each while Mubashar Ali scored the other goal.
Tauseeq converted a penalty corner to set Pakistan on their way in the last minute of the first quarter before they hit top gear in the second quarter.
Another penalty corner conversion, this time by Irfan, made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute before Atiq got his first a minute later with Irfan getting a second in the 30th.
Mubashar made it 5-0 in the 33rd from a penalty corner before Atiq hit is second five minutes later. Abu Bakr, from a penalty corner, and Atiq scored in the space of two minutes to make it 8-0 by the 43rd.
Abu Bakr got his second after another penalty corner conversion in the 49th and Tauseeq rounded off the scoring a minute later for Pakistan who next play Oman on Wednesday.
Oman went down 2-1 to Bangladesh in their opening match while in the day’s other Pool ‘B’ match, Malaysia mauled Kazakhstan 16-2 to take top spot in the section.