India beat Pakistan by 5-3 in the nerve-wracking semifinal of U-18 Asia Cup 2026, organized by the Asian Hockey Federation, at Kakamigahara, Japan.
According to details, India took an early lead through a penalty stroke. Tani Ashish scored India’s first goal. Pakistan’s Adeel then equalized. In the 35th minute, India’s Shahrukh scored to put India 2-1 ahead. In the 37th minute, Pakistan’s Muhammad Farhan leveled the match by 2-2.
In the 42nd minute, Uzair Ahmed scored for Pakistan to give the team a 3-2 lead. After that, India’s Tani Ashish netted three consecutive goals to secure a 5-3 win and a place in the final.
Pakistan Hockey Federation President, Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, lauded the Pakistan U-18 hockey team’s outstanding performance and fighting spirit in the U-18 Asia Cup played in Japan.
He said that despite the semifinal defeat, the young players won the hearts of hockey fans across the country by displaying exceptional talent, strong resolve, and dedication.
It may be recalled that Pakistan had qualified for the semifinal after beating Bangladesh 5-2 in the quarterfinal.
He added that the team was formed just a few weeks before the event, leaving them with very limited time for training and to build coordination. Furthermore, for most of the players in the squad, this was their first major and tough competition at the international level.
Despite these adverse conditions, he said, the players’ coordination on the field, brilliant moves, and fighting spirit right till the final second are a promising sign for the future of Pakistan hockey. Like any emerging team, there were some mistakes in this event, but these experiences are part of the learning process. These players have proven that Pakistan has excellent new hockey talent, he said.
The PHF statement said, “We are proud of our heroes. They played with full passion, courage, and dignity to uphold the honor of the green crescent flag. Their journey does not end here; it is only the beginning. The nation stands with the players and will continue to back them in achieving more success in the future.”