The intensity was missing in Malaysia’s play. Pakistan knew what to do. They kept the ball, attacked with sharpness and ensured that the defence didn’t have to do much. It’s not the first time this has happened with the Malaysian team. In the past also, they have won a big game and lost the next meekly.

Today, they must have shocked quite a few of their fans. The fire wasn’t there and they seemed overawed by the occasion. Playing their first Asian Games final should have given them a sharpness that could have tested the Pakistan defence and midfield. But midway through the first half, it seemed that Pakistan wouldn’t have to do much except keep out the errors and get their quota of goals.

Veteran Sohail Abbas put Pakistan ahead with his team's first penalty corner in the 26th minute, before striker Rehan Butt increased the margin three minutes after half-time.

It was Pakistan's eighth Asiad hockey gold, ending a drought that stretched back to Beijing in 1990, and handed them their first major title since winning the World Cup in Sydney in 1994.

Pakistan ended the year on a high after a disappointing eight-month period in which they finished a humiliating 12th out of 12 at the World Cup in March and took sixth place at the Commonwealth Games in October.

The Pakistanis kneeled in prayer after the final whistle, before lifting their Dutch coach Michel van den Heuvel over their shoulders to loud applause from the stands.

Malaysia, often dubbed the sport's perennial under-achievers, had to settle for silver in their maiden appearance in the title clash after winning the bronze medal six times.

The entire Malaysian team, barring Sikh player Baljit Singh, shaved their heads in a practice called 'nazar' to ward off evil spirits in the final.