Asian Games 2010: Pakistan has a stronger hockey squad
Now that two senior players of the Pakistan hockey team, Sohail Abbas and Salman Akbar, have returned, the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s officials believe that the team has higher chances of winning the Asian Games title once again in Guangzhou, scheduled
to take place towards the end of the month.
The members of the selection committee preferred the former captain of the team, Salman and the experienced goal keeper Sohail Abbas over the young players. They representatives of the committee say that the federation wants a competitive team to play at
the events which will be taking place from the 12th to 27th of November.
The federation has learnt a lesson from the three changes that were made to the team that was sent out to New Delhi for the Commonwealth Games. The Pakistan hockey team was disappointingly ranked sixth at the end of the Delhi Games. Sohail, an amazing hockey
player was dropped out of the team on the basis of the team’s poor performance in the World Cup that took place in the beginning of this year in New Delhi. He was also a part of the final rejections made before the Pakistan hockey squad left for the Delhi
Games. His achievements in the past have once again been recognized and thus he will be representing Pakistan in China.
When the team manager Khawaja Junaid was questioned about the increased expectations of a better performance from the team, he said
“Our team is certainly stronger now.” He further added, “Goalkeeping is a very important department and should get a boost with Salman’s return. Sohail, too, is a very solid short corner striker while Zubair should be a good addition on the left
flank.” Junaid himself is a former Olympian.
Talking about the miserable failures of the team in the last two mega sports events, the 2010 World Cup and the Commonwealth Games 2010, Junaid said,
“Our target is to play to our potential and win the gold medal.”
It is particularly important for the team to defend their title at the Asian Games, since this event will confirm its position in the 2012 London Olympics. This fact is well understood by the officials of the management as Junaid also said, “Our boys
are working very, very hard and are really focused. Another important thing is that they have learnt their lessons and will not be repeating the same mistakes again.”
Tuesday was a big day for the Pakistan Hockey Federation since the special request made by them to the organizing committee of the Asian Games was accepted by the organizers. The organizing committee had not provisionally included Sohail in the 30 man hockey
squad.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary Asif Bajwa said, “Sohail’s accreditation has been approved but he will still be needing a Chinese visit visa. Unlike our other players, he will now get the accreditation in Guangzhou and will travel to China on
a visa.”
Zeeshan Ashraf will be heading the Pakistan Hockey team, meanwhile Muhammad Imran has been appointed as the deputy captain.
The finalised hockey team to represent Pakistan in China has now been finalised. Those on the list include Zeeshan Ashraf (captain of the team), Muhammad Imran (vice captain), Sohail Abbas, Salman Akbar, Muhammad Irfan, Muhammad Rashid, Waseem Ahmed, Fareed
Ahmed, Abdul Haseen Khan, Muhammad Tauseeq, Rehan Butt, Shafqat Rasool, Shakeel Abbasi, Muhammad Zubair, Muhammad Waqas Sharif and Muhammad Rizwan and Shafqat Rasool. The team will be leaving for Guangzhou on the 8th of November via Bangkok. The
team will be encountering its old rivals; Japan, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Korea, China, Singapore and Oman.
Pakistan team will kick off at the Asian Games on the 17th of November against the strong team of Hong Kong. Its next encounter will be against Japan, the very next day and then the Pakistan team will play in competition with India and Bangladesh
on the 20th and 21st of November respectively.
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