Hockey: Pakistan grab bronze in Asian Games
'Pakistan Times' Sports Desk

DOHA: Pakistan won the Asian Games men's field hockey bronze medal with a 4-2 win over Japan on Thursday, earning themselves a place in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Japan took the lead in the ninth minute through Takahiko Yamabori but Adnan Maqsood equalised two minutes later and Shakeel Abbasi made it 2-1 for Pakistan by the interval.

Muhammad Waqas delighted Pakistani fans at the Al-Rayyan stadium by pumping in two goals in 12 minutes after the break, the second with a splendid reverse hit from the top of the circle.

Yamabori reduced the margin with his 12th goal of the competition, but could not prevent Japan from facing a hazardous qualifying route for the Olympics.

The International Hockey Federation's new qualification rules gave only the two Asian Games finalists a direct entry into the Beijing Olympics.

But with China, who take on South Korea in the final later, already assured of playing in the Olympics as the host nation, the bronze medallists were granted the additional spot.●