Pakistan thump Japan to go top

Pakistan on Thursday scored their biggest win in the World Cup qualifiers underway at the Metropole Hockey Club in Lille, France, thumping Japan 6-1 in a lop-sided contest.

Pakistan are now heading the table with 12 points. Japan have nine and Poland and France seven with Poland ahead on better goal average. Having lost all their four matches, Russia and Italy have yet to earn a point.