Zubair Mohammad scored a last-minute equaliser as Pakistan snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw against Malaysia in their opening match of the Asian Games men's field hockey here on Monday.
In other games, India rode on captain Dilip Tirkey's hat-trick to trounce Bangladesh 6-0, China outplayed Oman 6-1 and Taiwan shocked Hong Kong 1-0 in their first Asiad appearance. The new-look Pakistanis were lucky to share the points after Malaysia fought hard to maintain the lead given by captain Kuhan Shanmuganathan through a penalty corner in the 52nd minute.
Memories of the previous Asiad in Busan returned to haunt the Pakistanis who were denied an Asian Games medal for the first time when Malaysia beat them in the play-off for the bronze medal. Pakistan axed five seniors, including captain Mohammad Saqlain and Sohail Abbas, the most successful penalty corner hitter in history, in a bid to win their first major title since the World Cup in 1994.
"The first match is always difficult but I am glad we fought to get a draw," said Pakistan coach Shahnaz Sheikh. "We will gain in confidence from here."
Pakistan are drawn with Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan in group A from where two teams will qualify for the semi-finals. Group A has India, defending champions South Korea, China, Bangladesh and Oman. Pakistan's hard-fought draw contrasted sharply with the emphatic wins by India and China earlier in the day.
Shivendra Singh, Vokkaliga Raghunath and Adam Sinclair built on Tirkey's hat-trick against Bangladesh as India established a 4-0 lead by half-time. "It wasn't a difficult match. I would have been disappointed if we had scored fewer goals," said Indian coach Vasudevan Baskaran. "The tough matches are what will count more."
Chinese captain Yi Song led his team's one-sided win over lowly Oman with four goals. Yu Yang and Na Yubo also scored while Samir Shibli narrowed the margin for Oman.
More than just an Asian Games gold medal is at stake in the field hockey competition. According to the new Olympic qualifying rules drawn up by the International Hockey Federation, both finalists in the men and women events in Doha will earn direct spots in the 2008 Beijing Games.
If China finishes among the top two, the third-placed team will make the trip to Beijing. South Korea are favourites to retain the men's gold medal they won in Busan four years ago that triggered a spectacular slide by the sub-continental giants India and Pakistan.
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