KARACHI: Pakistan have defeated Japan 5-3 to clinch bronze medal in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2022 on Wednesday in Ipoh, Malaysia.
Pakistan have won a medal at the event for the first time in 11 years.In the first quarter, Kentaro Fukuda gave Japan the lead in the ninth minute but that was quickly cancelled out by Pakistan’s Hanan Shahid in the 10th minute.
Pakistan scored two goals in the second quarter, one each by Arbaz and Rooman, to take control of the match.
Japan threatened to make a comeback, in the third quarter, after Yuma Nagai reduced Pakistan’s lead to one goal in the 30th minute. However, Rooman once again gave Pakistan a two-goal cushion in the 34th minute of the match.
In the final quarter, Yuma Nagai pulled one back for Japan in the 49th minute but Abdul Rana added another goal for Pakistan three minutes later.
It must be noted that Pakistan finished on the fourth position on the points table, with one win in five games.
Pakistan securing a medal in the event is commendable bearing in mind the fact that many experienced players were not part of the squad.
