GUANGZHOU, Nov 25: Pakistan's national anthem resonated at the Asian Games hockey event after two decades as the country's players defeated a charged Malaysian team 2-0 in the Asian Games final here on Thursday.

The squad played with surgical precision, putting up a gold medal winning performance in the all-important final.

“They did it again; come on Pakistan,” said an overjoyed Chinese fan Jian Wen Hua, 25, a piano teacher, flanked by several hundred Pakistani university students, local businessmen and professionals who turned up at 11:00 o'clock in the morning to witness the final played at the Aoti Hockey Stadium.

Pakistan last won a gold medal in the very same country — 20 years ago they defeated India in the Asian Games held in Beijing.

The game started slowly as both the teams missed few chances in the first few minutes.

It was during the 25th minute that Rehan Butt's stick was blocked by the Malaysian defence liner and the goalkeeper within the danger zone.

Pakistan's penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas netted the first goal on a drag flick, bypassing Malaysian goalkeeper's right glove.

Rehan missed a few nerve-wracking passes which could have increased Pakistan's lead. However, a flashy Rehan cashed in on a pass by Shafqat Rasool from the right within the 'D'.

Shafqat's pass was well taken by Rehan who gently pushed the ball into the goalpost increasing the lead to 2-0.

Pakistan got three penalty corners while only one was successfully converted into a goal by Sohail; the rest either passed the goalpost or nicked the goalkeeper's pads.

This coupled with the magic of Pakistan's goalkeeper Salman Akbar ensured the country their win; he blocked two back-to-back shots aimed at Pakistan's goalpost two minutes before the regulation time.

Pakistan raided Malaysia's twenty-five line almost 17 times during the 70-minute fixture while the opposition failed to engineer a successful goal-scoring move as Pakistan's defence was held brilliantly by skipper Zeeshan Ashraf and Sohail.

Malaysia, which scored three goals on three penalty corners, could not net the gold medal. Nonetheless, some of their players' performances were exceptional including that of Abdul Jalil Tenku.

“I am extremely proud and happy by the team's performance. They all had been preparing for the last four months for the Asian Games and their performance proves it,” Pakistan's Dutch coach, Michael Van De Heuvel, told Dawn minutes after the medal giving ceremony.

“This is just a beginning and there is still a long way to go,” he added when asked if the team has also qualified for a direct berth at the 2012 London Olympics and whether or not the green-shirts would win the gold there also.

It was a double delight also for Heuvel as he joined the list of International Hockey Federation's [FIH] master coach lists with Pakistan's win.

Zeeshan Ashraf said: “I am a happy man and it was really a team effort. We had decided before entering China that we had to clinch something for the Pakistani nation.”

Zeeshan added that they would think about retirement after consulting their mentors.

Sohail said: “All of us played according to the plan and it clicked.” He, however, was generous enough to compliment the opponents: “The Malaysians were better but it was not their day.”

Khawaja Junaid, Pakistan's assistant coach, added: “The win has ensured a revival of Pakistan hockey.”

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Asif Bajwa, a former Olympian, added: “We have placed Pakistan on the international hockey map once again and the run for the Olympic game has started.

“It's a win for the nation,” said an emotionally charged Salman Akbar.

Meanwhile, Malaysia's coach Stephen van Huizen said: “Pakistan played well and deserved the win. It was our first tournament. Hopefully, we will do better in the upcoming events.”