Pakistan, India to clash
in men's hockey semis

Seven-time Asian Games champions Pakistan set up a semi-final clash with traditional rivals India by beating Malaysia 6-1 to lead their group in the men's hockey competition in Busan on Sunday.

Pakistan, who have failed to make the Asian Games final since winning their last gold medal in 1990, played at a blistering pace despite the rain-affected, waterlogged pitch causing problems for both teams.

Inside-left Mudassar Ali and center-forward Kashif Jawad scored two goals each in open-field play to lead Pakistan's charge, while wing strikers Muhammad Nadeem and Salim Khalid had one goal each.

Malaysia got their only goal through a penalty-corner conversion by skipper Kuhan Shanmuganathan.

The margin could have been a record against Malaysia had penalty-corner expert Sohail Abbas's shot not found the crossbar.

Pakistan had beaten Malaysia 6-0 in the 1958 Asiad.

Completing their third consecutive easy win in Pool B, Pakistan topped the group with nine points while Malaysia took the second spot with six points from three matches.

Pakistan's opponent in Thursday's semi-final will be defending champions India, who finished second behind South Korea in Pool A.

Malaysia, playing their first semi-final since winning the bronze at Beijing in 1990, will take on Olympic silver medallists South Korea.

In other matches of the day, Japan beat Hong Kong 3-0 and China beat Bangladesh by a similar margin.