In a surprising turn of events, during the final match of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Hulunbuir, China, the Pakistani players showed their support for China by carrying the Chinese flag to the stadium while the Indian team was playing against them. This act did not sit well with Indian fans, who expressed their displeasure and anger across social media platforms.
China’s Role in Pakistan’s Elimination Adds to the Drama
What adds to the irony is that China had defeated Pakistan in the semi-finals with a score of 2-0 in a penalty shootout, knocking Pakistan out of the title race. Despite this, the Pakistani players decided to back the team that ended their title hopes. The unexpected move of supporting their conquerors caught everyone off guard.
Pakistan Secures Bronze Medal with Strong Comeback Against Korea
While the final stirred up emotions, Pakistan managed to finish on a high note, defeating Korea 5-2 in the bronze medal match. After a shaky start, Pakistan bounced back, with Sufiyan Khan (38, 49 minutes), Hannan Shahid (39, 54 minutes), and Ruman (45 minutes) scoring the winning goals. On the Korean side, Jungjun Lee (16 minutes) and Jihun Yang (40 minutes) scored for their team.
Korea had initially taken the lead, with Jungjun Lee finding the back of the net after a defensive lapse by Hannan Shahid in the 16th minute. However, Pakistan quickly regained their momentum in the second half, taking control and securing their place on the podium with an impressive victory.