Pakistan off to flying start with 3–1 victory over South Korea in Hockey Test Series opener
Pakistan off to flying start with 3–1 victory over South Korea in Hockey Test Series opener
By Nawaz Gohar ; Pakistan’s national field hockey team kicked off their four-match home Test series against South Korea on a winning note, delivering a dominant display to defeat the visitors 3–1 in the opening clash at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium.
The high-profile encounter was witnessed by distinguished dignitaries, including the Secretary for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) and President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, alongside the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Pakistan, Park Kijun.
Marking a historic milestone for international hockey hosted in the country, match details and statistics were published live on the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) Tournament Management System (TMS) for the first time for a game played in Pakistan.
Following a tightly contested and goalless first quarter, the green-shirts adopted an aggressive tactical posture. Pakistan broke the deadlock in the 21st minute when drag-flicker Muhammad Sufyan Khan converted a precise penalty corner to put the hosts ahead 1–0.
South Korea responded in the 29th minute when Yang Jihun converted a penalty corner to level the score at 1–1. However, Pakistan immediately restored their lead just moments before the half-time break in the 30th minute, as captain Mahmood Abu Bakar finished off a brilliant attack to make it 2–1.
Pakistan kept up the pressure in the second half, and in the 38th minute of the third quarter, Sufyan Khan struck his second goal of the match and Pakistan’s third, effectively sealing a convincing victory for the home side.
The match was officiated by umpires Haroon Rashid and Yasir Khurshid, with Muhammad Javed serving as the technical officer. Waqas Ahmad and Mirza Javed performed duties as judges, while Shafiq Bhatti acted as the technical delegate.
Other key officials present included Umpire Manager Faiz Muhammad Faizi, Media Coordinator Muhammad Waqas Shaikh, PHF Camp Coordinator Lt. Col. (Retd.) Abdul Nasir Akhunzada, and Chief Coordinator & Operations Najeeb Khattak.
The second match of the four-Test series will take place on August 1, followed by the third match on August 4, and the fourth and final Test on August 7, 2026—all scheduled to be played at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium in Islamabad.
