Pakistan suffered its first hockey defeat at the Asian Games 2026, losing 5-4 to Malaysia in a closely contested Group B match at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena on Saturday. Despite the setback, Pakistan added two squash bronze medals to its medal tally, with Ashab Irfan and Noor Zaman reaching the singles semi-finals before losing their respective matches.
Malaysia Edges Pakistan in Hockey
Pakistan appeared on course for victory after taking a 4-3 lead against Malaysia in the fourth quarter. Sufyan Khan had been the key player for Pakistan, scoring all four of his team’s goals during the match.
The Asian Games 2026 encounter remained evenly balanced, with the teams level at 3-3 at the end of the third quarter. Sufyan then scored his fourth goal to put Pakistan ahead, but Malaysia produced a late comeback.
The Malaysian side scored twice during the final five minutes to turn the match around and secure a 5-4 victory. The result handed Pakistan its first defeat of the tournament and moved Malaysia to the top of Group B, while Pakistan remained in second place.
Pakistan will now face Oman in its final group-stage match. The result of that game will be important as the team looks to finish the group stage strongly and progress further in the competition.
Ashab Irfan Wins Squash Bronze
While the hockey team endured a difficult finish, Pakistan secured two medals in squash through Ashab Irfan and Noor Zaman.
Ashab reached the men’s singles semi-final after defeating India’s Veer Chotrani in the quarter-final. However, he faced another Indian opponent, Abhay Singh, in the last four and struggled to gain control of the match.
Singh won the opening game 11-3 in just nine minutes. Ashab attempted to respond in the second game but was unable to overcome his opponent’s pressure, losing 11-2.
The Indian player then completed the match by taking the third game 11-6 in eight minutes. With the straight-games victory, Singh advanced to the gold-medal match.
Despite the semi-final defeat, Ashab was guaranteed a bronze medal for reaching the final four.
Noor Zaman Also Secures Bronze
Noor Zaman faced Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng in the other semi-final. Unlike Ashab’s match, Zaman made a strong start and initially appeared capable of challenging the Malaysian player.
Zaman moved ahead 7-5 in the opening game after exchanging points with Ng. However, the Malaysian responded with six consecutive points and eventually won the game 11-5 after 14 minutes.
The Asian Games 2026 semi-final then shifted firmly in Ng’s favour. He dominated the second game, winning 11-2 in only four minutes.
Ng maintained the pressure in the third game and again finished quickly, securing an 11-4 victory in four minutes. The straight-games result sent Ng into the gold-medal match against India’s Abhay Singh.
Zaman’s semi-final defeat nevertheless earned him a bronze medal, giving Pakistan another podium finish in squash.
Pakistan Squash Players Set for Playoff
Although both Pakistani players have already secured bronze medals, they are scheduled to meet each other in the third-place playoff on Sunday at the same venue.
The match will give both players another opportunity to compete at the Asian Games 2026, although their medal positions have already been secured by their semi-final appearances.
Their performances also provide Pakistan with a notable result in the squash competition, where both players advanced deep into the singles draw.
Hockey Team Looks to Bounce Back
The hockey defeat against Malaysia will be a setback for Pakistan, particularly after the team had built a one-goal advantage late in the match. Sufyan Khan’s four goals were not enough to secure victory after Malaysia scored twice in the closing stages.
The Asian Games 2026 hockey campaign will now move into its next phase as Pakistan prepares for its final Group B fixture against Oman.
With Malaysia currently leading the group and Pakistan in second, the Pakistani side will need to focus on its final group match and maintain its position as the competition progresses.
Saturday therefore produced mixed results for Pakistan. The hockey team experienced its first defeat after a late Malaysian comeback, while Ashab Irfan and Noor Zaman ensured two squash bronze medals for the country.
As the Asian Games 2026 continues, attention will now turn to Pakistan’s final hockey group match and the squash third-place playoff between its two medal-winning players.
