Pakistan’s junior hockey team began their Sultan of Johor Cup 2026 campaign with an emphatic 8-3 win over China on Saturday. The side came back from 3-1 down, scoring seven unanswered goals at Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Background

The Sultan of Johor Cup is an annual international under-21 men’s tournament held in Malaysia, and this is the 14th edition. Pakistan has taken part many times, and its best result was a runners-up finish in 2016, when it lost the final to Australia.

Pakistan are ranked 12th in the FIH Junior World Rankings, while China are ranked 20th, according to Sports247. That made Pakistan the favourites, but China gave them a difficult first half.

Details

Pakistan took the lead in the 13th minute through Saifullah. China responded quickly, with Liang Haolin scoring in the 15th and 18th minutes and Wang Yubo adding a third in the 25th minute to put China 3-1 ahead.

Pakistan then took control. Farooq Muhammad pulled one back in the 30th minute, and Rana Waleed levelled the score in the 37th. Hamza Fayyaz put Pakistan in front two minutes later, and Mustafa Ghulam and Usman Muhammad scored in the 43rd and 44th minutes to stretch the lead.

Haider Asim completed the win with two late goals, in the 55th and 57th minutes. China did not score again after the 25th minute. Sports247 noted that China had made a promising start against their higher-ranked opponents, and that Pakistan had to be patient before finding a breakthrough.

The match was played on Day 1 of the tournament, and the win puts Pakistan top of the round-robin table for now, with three points and a goal difference of plus five.

Quotes

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani congratulated the players, team officials and coaching staff. He praised the team’s fighting spirit and unity, called the performance encouraging for the future of Pakistan hockey, and said he hoped the junior side would keep the same momentum in upcoming matches.

Impact

The result is a strong start for a young team, and it came after a tough opening half where they were behind. Scoring seven goals in the final three quarters shows good fitness and attacking depth, which will matter in a tournament with only a short gap between matches.

It also comes at a good time for Pakistani hockey, which has been in the news this month with the launch of the Pakistan Hockey League and a goalkeeping camp led by a Dutch coach. A good showing by the juniors adds to the sense of a revival.

Conclusion

Pakistan’s next fixtures are against Canada on Sunday, October 18, and Malaysia on October 21, according to the FIH schedule. The team will aim to keep their unbeaten start and push for a place in the final, which the table currently shows the leaders qualifying for.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the score in Pakistan’s opening match at the Sultan of Johor Cup 2026?
Pakistan beat China 8-3 on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru. They trailed 3-1 after 25 minutes but scored seven unanswered goals, with Haider Asim netting twice in the 55th and 57th minutes. Saifullah, Farooq Muhammad, Rana Waleed, Hamza Fayyaz, Mustafa Ghulam and Usman Muhammad also scored.

Who scored for China?
Liang Haolin scored twice, in the 15th and 18th minutes, and Wang Yubo added a third in the 25th minute. China led 3-1 at that point but could not score again as Pakistan took control in the second half.

When does Pakistan play next in the tournament?
According to the FIH schedule, Pakistan face Canada on Sunday, October 18, and Malaysia on Wednesday, October 21, in the round-robin stage. After the opening win, they are at the top of the table with three points, and the leaders are shown as qualifying for the final.