Can Pakistan end 10-year hockey losing streak against India?

Pakistan face India in the men’s hockey semi-final at the 2026 Asian Games on Thursday, with a place in the final and a chance to qualify directly for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics at stake.

For Pakistan, the journey to this stage has come with valuable exposure.

Their return to the FIH Hockey Pro League saw them lose all 16 matches, but regular games against top teams were followed by appearances at the 2026 World Cup and now the Asian Games.

Off the field, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) also introduced a new coaching and high-performance setup, bringing in modern approaches to fitness, sports science, goalkeeping and talent development.

Pakistan won four of their five group matches, but the 5-4 loss to Malaysia after leading 4-3 showed that the team still has room to improve.

Pakistan’s chance to rewrite history

India, meanwhile, have raised the bar considerably.

They won Olympic bronze at Tokyo 2020, claimed Asian Games gold in 2023 after beating Pakistan 10-2, and have not lost to Pakistan since the 2016 South Asian Games final.

They have also been ruthless in these Asian Games, winning all five group matches and scoring 49 goals.

But this is Pakistan’s chance to rewrite the narrative.

After years of limited international exposure, a return to the Pro League, a World Cup appearance and new steps to modernise the sport, Pakistan now have the opportunity to do what has seemed almost impossible for a decade: beat India.

And if they can, it could be more than just a semi-final victory. It could mark the beginning of a new era for Pakistan hockey.