DAZHOU (Kashmir English): Pakistan’s dream run in the Asia Cup came to an end on Saturday as the U-18 men’s hockey team lost 3–0 to Japan in the final played in Dazhou, China. Despite an impressive undefeated streak leading up to the final, the Pakistani side struggled to break through Japan’s strong defense.
The match started with high expectations for Pakistan, who had performed brilliantly throughout the Asia Cup tournament. However, Japan’s organized play and quick attacks kept Pakistan under pressure for most of the game. By the final whistle, Japan had scored three goals and kept a clean sheet, denying Pakistan any chance of a comeback.
The final score of the match was 3-0, with Japan’s Yuma Fujiwara scoring goals in the 22nd and 38th minutes of the game and Tatsuaki Yasui converting a penalty corner to score in the 49th minute.
Pakistan had secured their place in the finals of the U-18 Asia Cup with a penalty shootout victory over Malaysia, maintaining an unbeaten streak in the tournament till the final.
Earlier in the tournament, Pakistan’s U-18 team impressed everyone by dominating the group stage. They defeated Hong Kong 8–0, Sri Lanka 9–0, and Bangladesh 6–3. In their final group match, they overcame the host team China 2–1, finishing at the top of Group A. These performances helped them reach the semi-finals with full confidence.
In the semi-final, Pakistan faced Malaysia and secured a narrow win to advance to the Asia Cup final. Their performance throughout the event raised hopes among fans of a possible title victory and a bright future for hockey in the country.
Unfortunately, the final didn’t go their way. Despite several attacking moves, Pakistan could not convert any chances into goals, while Japan made the most of their opportunities.
The loss in the Asia Cup final is a setback, but reaching the title match itself is seen as a major achievement for the young squad. The team’s strong run shows potential and gives hope for the revival of hockey in Pakistan, especially at the junior level.
As the team returns home, they carry with them not just a silver medal, but also the experience and confidence to build for the future. The Asia Cup 2025 may not have ended in victory, but it marked a promising chapter for Pakistan’s next generation of hockey players.
