Pakistani streets on Thursday were filled with jubilant hockey lovers, with local TV channels telecasting special songs and programs, people congratulating each other and distributing sweets, after the country secured the hockey gold medal and its third in Guangzhou Asian Games.

The victory also sparked off wide-scale celebrations in every corner of the country. For the final match, big television screens were erected in big grounds for spectators in many cities like Faisalabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi and Vehari, the centers of hockey. On every good move of the team drum beat rose and passionate people danced on their hails.

Thousands of hockey lovers and reporters had thronged to the houses of hockey stars who won the title. TV channels had been telecasting their family members' live interviews and celebrations outside their houses.

Pakistan had been waiting for the golden moment for 20 years since 1990 Beijing Asian Games when the Pakistani hockey team won its last gold medal beating India.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and, surprisingly, religious leader Munawar Hassan congratulated the team and the nation on the victory.

The spirited Pakistani hockey team contested well with aggressive Malaysian hockey players to clinch gold medal. Pakistan kept control over the ball and dominated in all the sections of the games from the beginning of the match.

Pakistan took lead by 1-0 when penalty corner king Sohail Abbas pushed the ball into the net on the first penalty corner. The match came in the control of Pakistani players when team's forward Rehan Butt scored the second goal in the third minute of the second half.

The Pakistani team qualified for the final after outclassing defending champions South Korea in the semifinal on Tuesday in a thrilling match.

Malaysia qualified for the final first time after beating top class Indian team in a close contest semifinal match by 4-3.

Malaysia played their first ever Asian Games final after 13 appearances ever since they made their debut in 1958, the year hockey was introduced in the event.

The Pakistani team had an edge over Malaysia as it had won 66 and lost only three matches it played against Malaysia. Pakistan won eight gold medals, two silvers and three bronzes in all 16 Asian Games.

Pakistan's former Olympian Sami Ullah Khan while commenting on the match said team's forward attacking line was proven accurate and aggressive to keep the pressure on the opponents which gave them chances to score goals.

Manzoor Junior, Pakistan's former hockey captain, was so happy that nothing could stop him from dancing in a hockey ground in Pakistan's eastern city Lahore, uttering "Well done, Well done Pakistani team."

Talking to media, Junior said for the first time he was happy after 1994 when Pakistan won the world cup and Champion Trophy.

Shahid Ali Khan, former Pakistani goal keeper, said both team played well like champions but luck was on Pakistan's side.

"Malaysian players were well ahead in fitness and attacking techniques but Pakistan tackled them beautifully," said Shahid, who had also served as coach to the Malaysian team.

The Pakistani team, once a dominant force in world hockey, faced a lot of embarrassment due to poor performance in the last two major hockey events in 2010.

Some of the people dancing on the drum beat wished to have seen the final between two arch rivals Pakistan and India.

"Playing India in the final would have brought extra joy and thrill to the nation," said Abbas Rana, a hockey lover in Islamabad.

People want the national team to avenge from Indian team because India had defeated Pakistan three times in a row in the year 2010.

Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, federal minister for sports, said hockey is Pakistan's national game and the victory was a good omen for the game in the country.

Pakistan could not perform well in the two major hockey events held in India in 2010. Some sports critics blamed Indian crowd's harsh and abusive words against Pakistani players for the bad performance. But teams victory in Asian Games, just after one month of the Delhi Commonwealth Games, showed some positive signs to such allegations.

Jakhrani, replying to a question in a post-match press conference, said the players felt complete strange in India but China is Pakistanis' second home so the player did not felt any pressure and won.

Qasim Zia, president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, described the victory as a big boost for the sports in the country.

"This victory has given a fresh air to hockey in Pakistan and I am sure the team will carry on the victory streak," said Zia, a former Olympian. He also announced to give heavy cash prizes to the players on their return.

By winning the Asian Games gold, Pakistan has also qualified for the 2012 London Olympics.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2010)