All hail youth hockey team!
After the creation of Pakistan, the country could not win a medal in its first two appearances, in 1948 and 1952. But from 1956 to 1992, Pakistan always figured on the Olympic medal table. Apart from 1988, when Pakistan's sole medal came in boxing, it was the national game of hockey which brought home the gold medal in each of those editions of the world's biggest sports event.
Unfortunately the sagging fortunes in hockey have meant that in the last four Olympics, Pakistan have had the dubious distinction of not being able to win a single medal. But at the Youth Olympics in Singapore recently, the Pakistan's hockey team showed that there is still light at the end of the tunnel.
The hockey team had made it to the biggest youth sports gala of the world by winning the Youth Asia Cup held in Myanmar last year and their silver medal in Singapore made it possible for Pakistan to figure in the medal's table of the inaugural Youth Olympics.
The six teams in the hockey competition first played each other in a single league followed by position matches. The Pakistani lads easily swept aside their first three opponents; Ghana (6-3), Chile (15-1) and Singapore (4-1).
Next came their toughest assignment against the mighty Australians. And after trailing in the first-half, Pakistan capitulated to severe Australian pressure to lose 5-2.
Their last tie against Belgium thus became a do-or-die affair with both the sides vying for the second position and a place in the final. But Arsalan Qadir notched his ninth and tenth goals of the campaign as Pakistan won 3-2.
Australia were overwhelming favourites for the final but a resolute display saw Pakistan hold on to their lead, given to them by Mohammad Umair in the 10th, till the 47th minute mark.
With the contest seemingly heading into extra-time, the Aussies broke Pakistani hearts with a penalty-corner goal three minutes before the end.
Nevertheless, the hockey team had done the nation proud with a glorious performance that saw them miss out on the final hurdle.
Interestingly, there is a link between this medal at the inaugural Youth Olympics and country's last medal at the Olympics. Team manager Khawaja Junaid was a member of the bronze winning Pakistan hockey team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Recently, Aisamul Haq has been in the news all the time and is being deservedly greeted and rewarded. The achievement of the youth hockey team, however, is no less and should be acclaimed as such.
