Greenshirts looking to down India and confirm place in final of Asian Champions Trophy in China
Pakistan national hockey team, which is currently in China to feature in the Asian Champions Trophy, is eyeing to repeat their Sultan Shah Azlan Cup performance against the traditional rivals, India, in their last group match of the event to be played on
Friday, September 9.
“We will not go for a draw. We’ll go all-out for the victory and plans have been made accordingly. We want to go through to the final with a win and a victory against India will give the team a lot of confidence,” Khwaja Junaid, the manager of the national
hockey team, stated about their strategy for the important match against the traditional rivals, India.
Former Olympian Samiullah Khan, the legend of Pakistan hockey who is renowned as the Flying Horse, believed that the Greenshirts should be aware of the fact that the Indians have nothing to lose.
The veteran goalkeeper, Salman Akbar, also backed the Pakistani side to win against India and stated that the boys should not take any pressure while playing against the traditional rivals. He also stated that the Greenshirts should be confident for the
victory and must play with positive frame of mind by not letting in their minds that they are playing against India because this fact may put extra pressure on them.
“Pakistan will have to play really well. The team should avoid repeating their mistakes and step up their performance in the important match. The team will have to convert half chances because they are crucial in such a high-profile clash,” Samiullah Khan
added to his comments regarding Greenshirts’ encounter against the arch-rivals.
Meanwhile Asif Bajwa, the Secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has stated that PHF has no intention to bid for the FIH Men’s Champions Trophy hockey tournament after International Hockey Federation (FIH) has decided to shift it from India to
somewhere else due to some administrative tussles to govern the sport relating matters in the country. He also refused to pass any comment on the issue by saying that it is the internal issue of the Indian hockey.
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