KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 22 September 2003 — Titleholders South Korea were held to a 1-1 draw by a fighting Malaysian side while three-time champions Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh 8-0 at the Asia Cup men’s field hockey tournament in yesterday’s opening matches.
The Koreans were expected to walk all over the Malaysians, especially after their 5-2 win over the latter in the Champions Challenge in Randburg, South Africa in July.
Lee Jung Seon gave South Korea the start it was looking for when he converted a penalty corner in the third minute.
But Malaysia never gave up, and was duly rewarded when Chua Boon Huat scored a minute before halftime off a penalty corner as well.
In the Pakistan-Bangladesh match, Mudassar Ali scored the first goal in the eighth minute and thereafter there was no stopping Pakistan, the runner-up in the last edition of the Asia Cup in 1999.
Khasif Jawad notched up a hat trick, scoring in the 21st, 46th and 61st minutes, while penalty corner ace marksman Sohail Abbas converted two in the 26th and 62nd minutes.
Skipper Nadeem Ahmad got on the score sheet in the 46th minute and Rehan Butt rounded up with a 64th minute goal.
“Considering it was our first match, I am satisfied with the performance of the players,” said Pakistan team manager Abdul Rashid Junior. “Our opponents were packing the defense in the first half but we managed to get around them in the second half.”
India, despite a relatively poor performance by its forwards did just enough to defeat China 5-1. Dilip Tirkey converted two penalty corners in the third and 11th minutes while the other Indian goals were scored by Prabhjot Singh (41st and 69th minutes) and Gagan Ajit Singh (20th minute).
“We ought to have scored some eight or nine goals, but the forwards were put off by the tight marking of the Chinese players,” said Indian coach Rajinder Singh.
Japan defeated Hong Kong 7-2 with goals by Akihiko Hirate (12th minute), Kenichi Katayama (40th and 56th minutes) Naohiko Tobita (50th minute), Ryuji Furusato (61st and 68th minutes) and Kazayuki Ozwaw (64th minute).
Preetpal Singh Chima and Arif Ali scored for Hong Kong.
The eight-nation tournament runs through Sept. 28. The winner gains an automatic berth at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
