Testing time at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
THE 2010 Asian Games gold was Pakistan hockey’s first title win since the 1994 World Cup. The resultant direct qualification to the 2012 Olympics is an icing on the cake. The returning squad was showered with financial rewards of a magnitude never seen before for the winners of a continental title.
All this should be a way forward for Pakistan hockey; not only country’s national game but also the only sport to have landed olympic golds (3) and silvers (3) for world’s sixth most populous nation. But at the same time, there is a lot of food for thought. The green shirts were deserving winners at the Asiad but luck also played its part. They won the semi against the Koreans only on a penalty shoot out. In the other semi final, India, who had won all the last four ties against Pakistan in 2010, were sensationally beaten by the Malaysians. The 2010 Asiad final was Malaysia’s first ever final in any global or continental title event and they simply crumbled under the pressure. Having won the semi with last two goals coming via penalty corners, the Malaysians couldn’t even stop the ball properly off two of the three penalty corners they garnered in the final.
Then Pakistan had to rely on the ageing players. Salman Akbar and Sohail Abbas, dropped for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, were recalled and both excelled in the last two games. Goal keeper Salman was the hero of the semi’s penalty shoot out and Sohail, netted in the final. But at the same time it depicted the lack of suitable replacements. Apart from these two, there is also a question mark about the fitness of veterans Waseem, Rehan, Shakeel and Zeeshan: would they last till the London 2012?
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, beginning from the 5th of May, is Pakistan’s first assignment after the Asiad 2010. This time the invitational tournament has a very strong line up with Australia, the world champions, and Great Britain, who won the last European Championships (though as England) featuring. In addition, there are Korea, the most successful Asian side over the last decade and a half, and India, Pakistan’s recent nemesis. The other two nations New Zealand and the hosts Malaysia are also no pushovers.
http://epaper.pakobserver.net/detail-news.asp?id=89147
All this should be a way forward for Pakistan hockey; not only country’s national game but also the only sport to have landed olympic golds (3) and silvers (3) for world’s sixth most populous nation. But at the same time, there is a lot of food for thought. The green shirts were deserving winners at the Asiad but luck also played its part. They won the semi against the Koreans only on a penalty shoot out. In the other semi final, India, who had won all the last four ties against Pakistan in 2010, were sensationally beaten by the Malaysians. The 2010 Asiad final was Malaysia’s first ever final in any global or continental title event and they simply crumbled under the pressure. Having won the semi with last two goals coming via penalty corners, the Malaysians couldn’t even stop the ball properly off two of the three penalty corners they garnered in the final.
Then Pakistan had to rely on the ageing players. Salman Akbar and Sohail Abbas, dropped for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, were recalled and both excelled in the last two games. Goal keeper Salman was the hero of the semi’s penalty shoot out and Sohail, netted in the final. But at the same time it depicted the lack of suitable replacements. Apart from these two, there is also a question mark about the fitness of veterans Waseem, Rehan, Shakeel and Zeeshan: would they last till the London 2012?
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, beginning from the 5th of May, is Pakistan’s first assignment after the Asiad 2010. This time the invitational tournament has a very strong line up with Australia, the world champions, and Great Britain, who won the last European Championships (though as England) featuring. In addition, there are Korea, the most successful Asian side over the last decade and a half, and India, Pakistan’s recent nemesis. The other two nations New Zealand and the hosts Malaysia are also no pushovers.
http://epaper.pakobserver.net/detail-news.asp?id=89147
