Will Pakistan win back the Olympic glory or will it remain just a mediocre side? Will Pakistan watch one of the top-notchers, Australia, Germany or Holland, sneaking away with the title?
Pakistan Hockey Federation officials and the fans have cherished the Olympic dream for the last two decades. The last time they won anything was a bronze at Barcelona Games in 1992. However, the PHF particularly its President Qasim Zia, believe that now is the time. Pakistan hockey is on the right course.
“Well, we have a reason to believe because over the last couple of months, the team has done something that was not witnessed lately. They are the number one side in Asia now and are among the top seven teams of the world,” he said. In was in December 2010, when Pakistan won the Asian Games title in the Chinese city of Guangzhou.
Earlier this year, they reached the final of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia before losing to reigning world champions Australia on a penalty shoot-out. And last month, a young Pakistan team without the support of some of the seasoned players reached the final of the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy in Ordos (China) before losing to old rivals India on a tie-breaker. When Qasim Zia and Secretary Asif Bajwa took over in 2008, the Pakistan team was lingering at number six in Asia and eighth in the world.
But now, they are back in reckoning even for the Champions Trophy, to be held later in December in New Zealand. Qasim, who himself was the member of the Pakistan team that won the 1984 Olympic gold in Los Angeles, is so confident that he believes the team would surely be coming with some honour this time round. “My heart tells me that we won`t come home empty-handed from the Olympics this time,” said Qasim.
“The targets we set over taking the office were achieved and some are left would surely be accomplished with the way the team is developing and showing passion and hunger for win.” “And for that I have some solid reasons for being so optimistic,” he added. “The best thing about our team is that after a long time it is playing like a team and even without seniors the team made an impact,” said Qasim.
“There is a lot of hunger, motivation and team spirit among the boys which adds to my confidence ahead of the Olympics.” The three-time Olympic hockey champions have failed to win any Olympic medal and returned home empty-handed from Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000), Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008). Critics still believe that Pakistan did not have much chance of winning an Olympic medal in London either. It all depends on how good the Pakistan team performs in London. Though Pakistan have done well at the Asian level in recent times, their record against top teams like Australia, Germany and the Netherlands isn’t that impressive.
Earlier this year, they finished last in a four-nation event featuring Germany, England and the the Netherlands in Amsterdam. “Some wrong planning let the team down. But since then a lot of knowledge have been gained by the players and the recent performance in the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy is the example where even without seniors they reached the final and by the time they go to London, they will be a different team altogether.”
“Although result matters in the end, but in the recent times, Pakistan has shown courage even against strong teams like Australia and Germany. “Under Dutch coach Michel van den Heuvel, the team is learning the art of defence and counter attack and the proof is that they have learnt the art of penetrating through such team’s defences and all they need is to enhance their skills and give their moves a finishing touches,” he observed.
“As of the seniors, we have not dropped them. It is not like that. They have been given rest and the new lot was put to test and by the time they reach London they will be a quite a different lot altogether.”
Pakistan in build up for the London Games, will be touring Australia in October, play the Champions Trophy in December before embarking on a pre-Olympic tour of Europe. “After all these series of events a lot of 16 to 18 players will be finalized for the big event,” said Qasim.
“Its our Rs 300 million investment in the establishment of academies that has given us now replacements for every position and whatever decision we take comes through a democratic process of proper consultation,” he added. The PHF Executive board has 13 elected members and three technocrats. Former Olympians and international players are part of the consultation bunch.
“Criticism of former players is their right but they should also provide the PHF with solid input and solution to the crisis they feel the game is facing. It is not that there is no accountability. See I hold merit high and remember the entire team management was removed for poor show in the World Cup. But Asif Bajwa, though I have never played with him and he was much junior to me in the game, has proved his worth and I respect him,” he maintained and also stressed the need of the revival of the Pakistan and India series and the live telecast of hockey matches.
“Until we give the youth of our country something to follow the game won’t flourish and the series would add an extra impetus to our efforts.”
I hope the drought is over this time around, since so much money has been spent to improve the standard of the game at the national level and despite of all this focus the results produced by the team, PHF snd coaching staff has not been encouraging. Besides the Asian games gold medal, I feel the tour of Europe was a flop and mizerable. Loosing to low ranked teams like France, Ireland and Belgium was not enough that we lost to Japan and India in the recently concluded Asian Champions trophy in China. So what standing PHF is talking about. after loosing to England, Germany and Holland in tournaments and above mention teams you claim taht world ranking of the team is 6 and Asian ranking is 1. I can only say PHF is in fool's paradise and intentionally keeping themselves, people of Pakistan and others in dark. PHF wake up and smell the " JAVA ".
Comments are closed.