Islamabad, Aug 28: The Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024, which will be held in China from September 8–17, is rapidly approaching. Six countries are vying for the top slot in this elite tournament: Pakistan, China, India, Japan, Korea, and Malaysia. Exciting action is certain.
On September 8, the Pakistani team will play their first game of the season against Malaysia. All eyes will be on the team as they get ready to leave their mark to witness how they handle this cutthroat field.
The hockey squad from Pakistan has seen both highs and lows this year. The squad was disappointed not to make it to the Olympics earlier this year after losing 0–4 to Germany in the competition quarterfinal and suffering a tough 3-2 loss to New Zealand in the third-place game. This was Pakistan’s third consecutive year out of the Olympics, which was a major blow to the once dominant hockey nation.
The squad’s performance at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, meanwhile, was encouraging. Pakistan made an impressive impression during the group stages, but they lost to Japan in the final by a close margin. They performed admirably at the Hockey Nations Cup as well, making it to the semifinals before falling to New Zealand in a close game.
Past Glory
With Korea breaking the pattern in 2021, Pakistan’s men’s title has always been a titanic battle between the two Asian giants, India and Pakistan. As the team prepares for the 2024 tournament, the question still stands: Can Pakistan restore its past glory and return to the top of the podium? The stakes are high, and the competition is fierce. Pakistan has a rich history of winning the Asian Champions Trophy. They finished second in the first edition in 2010 and won it twice in 2012 and 2013.
