Pakistan opened their FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers journey with a hard-fought 5-4 victory over China at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium on Sunday. It looked comfortable at one stage. It didn&rsquo;t stay that way.

Sufyan Khan struck early from a penalty corner, settling nerves inside eight minutes. China answered quickly through Shihao Du, and the contest suddenly tightened. Few saw how quickly the momentum would swing back.

Rana Waheed Ashraf stepped up and showed his skills twice. His sharp penalty corner finish restored control before captain Ammad Butt fired in a crisp field goal that had the crowd on its feet. At 3-1, Pakistan seemed in charge.

<h2>Rana Waheed Turns the Tide in Suez</h2>

Abu Mahmood extended the cushion early in the third quarter. Then came the wobble. Shihao Du and Quyang Guan pulled China within touching distance, and honestly, you could sense the tension building around the turf.

Rana added what proved decisive, pushing Pakistan to 5-3. China refused to fade. Xiaojia Zhang struck in the final quarter, and two late penalty corners kept Pakistani hearts racing.&nbsp;

Pakistan vs China Hockey Match turned out to be a nail-bitter. Pakistan now sit second in Group B and next face Malaysia in another crucial <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/sports/fih-hockey-world-cup-qualifiers-2026/331/1">FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers</a> clash.

Pakistan open FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers with tense 5-4 win over China as Rana Waheed nets twice in Suez thriller.

Pakistan Win Nail-Biter vs China in FIH 2026 Qualifiers

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FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026

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