DNA
JOHOR BAHRU: In a surprising turn of events, New Zealand edged past Pakistan 3-2 in a crucial match of the Sultan of Johor Hockey Cup, effectively knocking Pakistan out of gold medal contention. The result came as a major setback for Pakistan, who entered the tournament as one of the top favorites following impressive earlier performances.
Nobody expected Pakistan to falter against New Zealand, a side ranked lower and traditionally considered less formidable in junior hockey. Despite flashes of brilliance, Pakistan failed to maintain consistency throughout the match. Defensive lapses and missed opportunities in the circle cost them dearly, allowing New Zealand to capitalize and secure a historic win.
Earlier in the tournament, Pakistan had shown great promise. They played an intense 3-3 draw against arch-rivals India in a match that kept the crowd on edge till the final whistle. Before that, Pakistan recorded a commanding 7-2 victory over hosts Malaysia, with penalty-corner specialist Muhammad Sufyan Khan netting a hat-trick. Those performances had raised expectations for a podium finish, but the loss to New Zealand has now derailed Pakistan’s campaign.
The Sultan of Johor Cup, an annual junior hockey tournament hosted by Malaysia, serves as an important platform for emerging talent from around the world. For Pakistan, this tournament held particular significance, as many of their players are also part of the senior national setup. Junior team captain Hannan Shahid, along with several others, plays a dual role in both senior and junior squads — a situation that has sparked debate among hockey experts.
Observers argue that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) must draw a clear distinction between its senior and junior national teams. Relying heavily on senior players in the junior squad may bring short-term results but could harm long-term talent development. Once these senior players retire, the gap in experience and exposure may leave Pakistan struggling to rebuild.
In contrast, most other participating teams have fielded purely junior players, allowing younger athletes to gain valuable international experience. Pakistan’s mixed composition, while boosting competitiveness, risks stalling the grooming of genuine future stars.
As the tournament continues, Pakistan will now aim to finish strongly in classification matches. However, the defeat to New Zealand will remain a wake-up call for PHF to rethink its development strategy and focus on nurturing a new generation of players capable of restoring Pakistan’s lost glory in world hockey.
