Hockey Update: Pakistan hockey team leaves for Asiad to regain past glory
Pakistan hockey team on Wednesday left for 16th Asian Games to regain the past glory of the game. Pakistan is hoping for a successful comeback having great historic records in the past events, which will boost their quest for the victory at the
Asiad, starting from November 12th in Guangzhou, China.
The former hockey superpower, Pakistan has an awesome history in the Asian Games, where it won seven gold medals, two silver and three bronze medals. Out of thirteen events, once only Greenshirts could not obtain medal in the Asian Gala in 2002, where Malaysia
thrashed Pakistan.
Pakistan hockey team firstly participated in 1958 Asian Games held in Tokyo, capital of Japan and obtained gold medal after beating arch rival India with one goal. India, the then Olympic Champion remained scoreless in the final match. Pakistani team had
started their international debut in 1948.
Thenceforth the Asian Games became a war berth between Pakistan and India and they played finals of the event almost two and half decades. From 1958 to 1982, Pakistan acquired six gold medals in Asiad and lost only one against India, at Bangkok, the capital
of Thailand in 1966.
In 1982, Pakistan heavily thrashed India with 7-1 score in New Delhi in the presence of clamorous crowd including Indian Prime Minister along with cabinet members. Legends of Pakistan’s side, Hanif Khan, Hassan Sardar and Kalimullah destroyed Indian team’s
defence with back to back goals.
During the victorious period of Pakistan, Abdul Rashid (Jr) and Abdul Waheed were top scorers of the Asian Games. They made historic record of 25 goals in a single event, which still stands.
Withal, the Korea by hitting all time favourites Pakistan and India emerged itself as best hockey squad of the Asia and conquered Asian Games in 1986. The game’s foe between the duo neighbours more intensified after deteriorating from the front lines.
Even though, Pakistan Hockey team revived its past glory in 1990 Asian Games and won a gold medal by beating arch rival India but it could not maintain the stamina. Asia’s new emerging power Korea acquired four gold and one silver medal out of six tournaments
from 1986 to 2006.
China in the last Asian Games, held in Doha obtained silver medal and put aside the former legends, India and Pakistan. China by scoring a goal in overtime ousted Pakistan from the last Asian Games and qualified for the final.
Pakistan will have to face the defending champion Korea, former silver medallist China, arch rival India and the dark-horse Japan in the upcoming Asian Games, where all teams will attempt to win a gold medal to get direct access to London Olympics. Pakistan
will face tough time from all squads; however, Pakistan team has good chance to wash the previous humiliating stigmas of World Cup and Commonwealth Games.
Pakistan is placed in Pool-B with arch rival India, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Japan while the other group is comprised of China, Oman, Singapore, Malaysia and defending champions South Korea.
In the medals’ table of Asian Games, Pakistan is standing at number one position with seven gold medals followed by South Korea and India with four and two medals respectively. The host china holds one silver medal while Malaysia and Japan posses six and
two bronze medals respectively.
The encounter of arch rivals, Pakistan and India is scheduled on November 20, which will more zest the event. India has psychological lead over Pakistan in last two victories in World Cup (4-1) and Commonwealth Games (7-4) earlier this year.
Pakistan hockey squad has been reinforced after the inclusion of world highest goal scorer and drag flick master, Sohail Abbas and legend goal keeper Salman Akbar, who were dropped in Commonwealth games.
Hockey lovers and supporters across the globe are thirstily waiting the event, as this tournament will also decide the fate of direct entry into the 2012 London Olympics.
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