Pakistan defeated Kazakhstan 3-1 in volleyball at the 2026 Asian Games, while the national contingent’s bronze medal tally rose to four after Pakistan secured two additional medals in squash. In the opening Pool A match at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium, Pakistan staged an impressive comeback after losing the first two sets. The national team won the match 16-25, 22-25, 25-17, 20-25.
Murad Khan was the standout performer for Pakistan, scoring 21 points, including 17 successful spikes and four blocks. Usman Faryad Ali contributed 14 points, while Jahan Murad and Musawar Khan added 11 and nine points, respectively.
In squash, Noor Zaman defeated compatriot Muhammad Asab Irfan in straight games in the men’s singles third-place playoff at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena. Noor won the 26-minute match 11-7, 11-7, 11-3.
The result did not affect the medal standings, as both players had already secured bronze medals after losing their respective semi-finals on Saturday. Noor Zaman lost 0-3 to Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow in the semi-final, while Asab Irfan was defeated by India’s Abhay Singh. Their progress to the semi-finals marked Pakistan’s return to the individual squash medal table at the Asian Games after 17 years.
With the two squash bronze medals, Pakistan’s total medal tally reached four. The tally also includes the bronze medal won by the women’s cricket team and the bronze secured by Asim Khan in the 60kg MMA event. In athletics, Pakistan received another boost as Ansar Abbas qualified for the men’s long jump final with a personal-best jump of 7.28 metres.
Abbas finished seventh in the qualification round. Uzbekistan’s Anvar Anvarov topped the standings with a jump of 8.00 metres, while India’s Murali Sreeshankar finished second with 7.84 metres.
Pakistan’s tennis campaign, which began on Sunday, produced mixed results. In the first round of the men’s doubles, Aqeel Khan and Muhammad Shoaib comfortably defeated their Mongolian opponents 6-2, 6-0.
The Pakistani pair dominated the match, securing 54 points compared with 23 by their opponents. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s hockey and cricket teams are also progressing toward crucial matches.
The hockey team, which made an impressive start to the tournament, suffered its first defeat on Saturday, losing 5-4 to Malaysia. Pakistan will now face Oman on Monday, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
In cricket, the first quarter-final between Pakistan and Hong Kong at the 2026 Asian Games was abandoned due to rain. The toss for the match, scheduled to be played at Kuroji Sports Park in Nishin, Japan, could not take place because of persistent rain. With the weather showing no signs of improving, the organisers cancelled the match. Pakistan advanced to the Asian Games semi-finals on the basis of its superior ranking.