Pakistan U-21 Juniors Thrash China 8-3 in Sultan of Johor Cup 2026 Opener

By Imran Javed | Updated: October 18, 2026

Pakistan’s junior hockey team opened their Sultan of Johor Cup 2026 campaign with a stunning 8-3 demolition of China at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, late on Friday evening. Trailing 1-3 at half-time, the Green Shirts roared back with seven unanswered goals — a second-half masterclass that announced Pakistan as genuine title contenders in this year’s Under-21 tournament.

Match	Pakistan U-21 8–3 China — Sultan of Johor Cup 2026, opening match
Venue	Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Played	Friday evening, October 16, 2026 (reported October 17–18)
Half-time score	China 3–1 Pakistan
Star performer	Haider Asim — two goals (55′, 57′)
Penalty corners	Pakistan 8 (3 converted) — China 4 (1 converted)

The goals: how Pakistan’s eight found the net

Seven different Pakistan players found the net — eight goals between them — a spread of scorers that will please the coaching staff more than any single hat-trick would. Here is how the goals fell:

Minute	Scorer	Team	Score
13′	Saifullah	Pakistan	1–0
14′	Liang Haolin	China	1–1
17′	Liang Haolin	China	1–2
24′	Wang Yubo (penalty corner)	China	1–3
30′	Farooq Muhammad	Pakistan	2–3
37′	Rana Waleed	Pakistan	3–3
39′	Hamza Fayyaz	Pakistan	4–3
43′	Mustafa Ghulam	Pakistan	5–3
44′	Usman Muhammad	Pakistan	6–3
55′	Haider Asim	Pakistan	7–3
57′	Haider Asim	Pakistan	8–3

Note: minute-by-minute timings follow Dawn, The Express Tribune and Islamabad Post, which agree on this sequence; one outlet’s match report lists Saifullah’s opener at the 12th minute and slightly different second-half timings. The 8–3 final score is undisputed.

From 1-3 down to 8-3: the anatomy of a comeback

The first half belonged to China, and it was not close. Saifullah gave Pakistan an early lead in the 13th minute, and for a few minutes the Green Shirts looked in control. Then Liang Haolin struck twice in three minutes — the 14th and 17th — and when China captain Wang Yubo converted a penalty corner in the 24th minute, Pakistan were staring at a 1–3 deficit and a tournament opener sliding away from them.

What happened after the break was one of those transformations coaches dream about. Pakistan came out for the third quarter with entirely different intensity. Farooq Muhammad’s goal in the 30th minute started the avalanche. Rana Waleed levelled it at 3–3 in the 37th, Hamza Fayyaz put Pakistan ahead two minutes later, and by the end of the third quarter it was 6–3 — four goals in a single quarter, each one louder than the last.

The fourth quarter brought no mercy. Mustafa Ghulam struck in the 43rd minute, Usman Muhammad followed a minute later, and Haider Asim’s brace in the 55th and 57th minutes turned a comeback into a rout. Seven unanswered goals in roughly half an hour of hockey.

The quarter-by-quarter breakdown tells the story cleanly: Pakistan’s goals came 1–1–4–2 across the four quarters; China’s faded 1–2–0–0. Pakistan also dominated set-pieces, earning eight penalty corners and converting three, while China managed four with only one conversion. Four of Pakistan’s goals were field goals — evidence of open-play dominance, not just dead-ball efficiency.

Haider Asim’s late brace: the exclamation mark

Every rout needs a finisher, and Haider Asim played the role perfectly. His two strikes in the 55th and 57th minutes — back-to-back, clinical, unstoppable — sealed the 8–3 scoreline and gave Pakistan the kind of statement victory that echoes through a tournament.

It is worth noting the breadth of the scoring. When seven different outfield players score and one adds a brace, you are looking at a system working, not a one-man show. Saifullah opened, Farooq Muhammad steadied nerves after the break, Rana Waleed and Hamza Fayyaz flipped the game in the third quarter, Mustafa Ghulam and Usman Muhammad piled on, and Asim finished the job. That is the profile of a squad, not a lucky night.

What the win means: title hunt is on

PHF president Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani was quick to congratulate the players, team officials and coaching staff, praising their fighting spirit and unity and calling the performance encouraging for the future of Pakistan hockey. He expressed hope that the junior side would carry the same momentum into the remaining matches — standard post-match fare, but the sentiment is real. This is a federation that has staked its reputation on youth development, and nights like this are the receipts.

The context makes the win bigger. Before the tournament, Pakistan had openly named hosts Malaysia as their main rivals in the quest for a first Sultan of Johor Cup title. The New Straits Times noted that Pakistan and Japan both sent “early warnings” to Malaysia with their opening-day victories. When the hosts are watching and the region’s press is already framing your team as the team to beat, an 8–3 opener is exactly the message you want to send.

There is also a pipeline angle. The PHF has committed to a development strategy spanning Under-18, Under-21, senior men’s and women’s teams. The junior side is the conveyor belt for the senior team — and with Pakistan pushing to restore its international presence (a home series against Canada is confirmed for February 2027, and the seniors head to the Azlan Shah Cup in November), the players scoring in Johor this week are auditioning for much bigger stages. Our earlier report on Pakistan’s hockey rebuilding road explains why results like this one matter so much right now.

Pakistan’s Johor Cup record and what comes next

The Sultan of Johor Cup is an annual Under-21 men’s invitational tournament held in Malaysia, and it has become one of the most-watched junior competitions in world hockey. Pakistan have never won it — hence the pre-tournament talk of a “first title.” An 8–3 opening statement does not win trophies, but it does something almost as valuable: it puts every other team on notice and takes pressure off the group-stage run.

The danger now is complacency. Junior tournaments are littered with teams that opened with a flourish and stumbled against disciplined opposition. The coaching staff’s job this week is to keep the squad’s feet on the ground: the defending that leaked three first-half goals against China will be punished by stronger sides. Fix that, keep the attacking fluency, and Pakistan have a genuine shot at the final.

For Pakistani fans, the broader picture is quietly exciting. The juniors are winning in Malaysia while the seniors prepare for the Azlan Shah Cup, and home internationals are returning to Islamabad. After years in the wilderness, Pakistan hockey is giving its supporters reasons to watch again. For more on the packed sporting calendar, see our coverage of Pakistan’s other international sporting assignments this season.

The teams to beat: Japan’s warning and Malaysia’s home advantage

Pakistan were not the only team to make a statement on opening day. The New Straits Times reported that Japan also recorded an impressive win on the same day — the two results together described as an “early warning” to hosts Malaysia. That framing matters: in junior hockey, the opening round is as much about psychology as points, and two of the tournament’s heavyweights chose day one to flex.

Malaysia, playing at home in Johor Bahru, carry the expectations of the host nation and the familiarity of the Taman Daya turf. Pakistan had already identified them as the main obstacle before a ball was pushed, naming the hosts as their principal rivals for the title. Home crowds at junior tournaments are famously loud, and Malaysia’s junior development system has been consistently competitive — underestimating them would be the classic trap.

The broader significance goes beyond one trophy. The Sultan of Johor Cup has become a shop window for the next generation of international hockey: scouts, senior-team coaches and federation officials all watch it closely. A deep run — let alone a first title — would validate the PHF’s youth-first strategy at exactly the moment the federation is asking for patience and investment in its long-term plan. For the players, every standout performance in Johor is a line on the CV for senior selection, with the Azlan Shah Cup squad and future home series on the horizon.

The format rewards consistency over fireworks: group-stage results decide who reaches the business end, which is why the coaching staff will be drilling one message this week — the 8–3 was the start, not the story.

Frequently asked questions

What was the score of Pakistan vs China in the Sultan of Johor Cup 2026?

Pakistan’s Under-21 team beat China 8–3 in their opening match of the Sultan of Johor Cup 2026, played at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on the evening of October 16, 2026.

Who scored Pakistan’s goals against China?

Saifullah (13′), Farooq Muhammad (30′), Rana Waleed (37′), Hamza Fayyaz (39′), Mustafa Ghulam (43′), Usman Muhammad (44′) and Haider Asim with two late goals (55′, 57′). China’s goals came from Liang Haolin (14′, 17′) and captain Wang Yubo (24′, penalty corner).

Was Pakistan losing at half-time against China?

Yes. Despite Saifullah’s early opener, China led 3–1 at the break thanks to Liang Haolin’s brace and Wang Yubo’s penalty corner. Pakistan then scored seven unanswered goals in the second half to win 8–3.

Where is the Sultan of Johor Cup 2026 being played?

The tournament is being held at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. It is an annual Under-21 men’s international hockey invitational.

Has Pakistan ever won the Sultan of Johor Cup?

No. Pakistan are targeting their first Sultan of Johor Cup title in 2026 and named hosts Malaysia as their main rivals before the tournament began.

Who is the PHF president?

Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani is the president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation. He congratulated the junior team after the 8–3 win over China, praising their fighting spirit and unity.

What is Pakistan’s next match in the Sultan of Johor Cup 2026?

The full fixture list is published by the tournament organisers in Malaysia. After the opening 8–3 win over China, Pakistan continue their group-stage campaign in Johor Bahru — check the official Johor Cup schedule for the next fixture.

Is this the same Pakistan team that plays senior internationals?

No. This is Pakistan’s Under-21 junior side. The senior national team is separately preparing for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia in November 2026, and a home bilateral series against Canada is scheduled for February 2027.

The bottom line

An 8–3 opening win is the dream start, but the scoreline flatters the first half and the second half flatters the team. Pakistan’s juniors showed they can score against anyone — seven unanswered goals says that loudly — and now they need to show they can defend like champions too. Do that, and the first Sultan of Johor Cup title is genuinely within reach. The Green Shirts have announced themselves in Johor. Now they have to finish the job.