Kaleem Qureshi
NAGOYA, JAPAN — Pakistan continued to make headlines at the Asian Games 2026 as athletes delivered strong performances across indoor sports, while heavy rain disrupted several outdoor events across Japan.
In esports, Pakistan’s PUBG Mobile squad produced an impressive display of coordination, aggressive gameplay and tactical shooting. The team advanced through the elimination stage and secured a place in the next qualification round, raising hopes of a historic medal in sports.
Weather conditions, however, caused major disruption to outdoor competitions. Heavy rain and strong winds affected cricket, tennis, archery and road cycling, forcing organizers to postpone or cancel several events. Pakistan’s cricket quarter-final against Hong Kong was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of a waterlogged ground. Pakistan advanced to the semi-finals on the basis of tournament rules and seeding. India also progressed after its quarter-final was affected by rain.
Pakistan’s hockey team produced one of the standout performances, defeating Oman 7-2 to reach the semi-finals. Sufyan Khan scored twice from penalty corners, while Waqas Rana completed a hat-trick. Ghazanfar Ali and Muhammad Imad also contributed goals.
Pakistan also secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Uzbekistan in men’s volleyball, strengthening its position in the group stage.
There were setbacks as well. Pakistani competitors were eliminated in jiu-jitsu, shooting and badminton after difficult contests. Shooters Ziaushan Munir and Farrukh Shahzad finished outside the top eight in the 50m rifle three-position event.
Pakistan has already secured two bronze medals in squash singles, while the men’s team remains in contention. With hockey and cricket reaching the semi-finals, Pakistan’s medal campaign remains active as the Games enter a crucial stage.
