Pakistan hockey team Beats South Korea 3-1 in historic series opener

Pakistan hockey team eased past South Korea 3-1 in the opening match of the four-test series at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium on Thursday, marking the first time in 20 years that an international hockey team has toured Pakistan for an official bilateral series.

The 13th-ranked Green Shirts dominated the 22nd-ranked Korea throughout the match. Sufyan scored twice, while newly appointed captain Abu Bakar Mahmood added a goal to cap off an excellent performance. South Korea managed just one goal in reply.

The series marks a significant milestone for Pakistan hockey, which has struggled to attract international teams to its shores over the past two decades due to security concerns and the sport’s declining profile in the country.

Earlier, President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani welcomed the Korean team’s arrival and described the tour as a landmark moment for the revival of international hockey in Pakistan. “This is a proud and memorable occasion for Pakistan hockey. After almost two decades, we are once again welcoming an international team to our home grounds,” he said. “We extend a warm welcome to the Korean National Hockey Team and are confident that this series will strengthen the longstanding friendship between our two countries while promoting high-quality international hockey.”

The second match of the series will be played on 2 August, followed by the third and fourth fixtures on 4 and 7 August, respectively. The series is seen as a crucial step in Pakistan’s efforts to revive the sport and attract more international competition in the future.