Hockey Special Report: Arch rivals Pakistan and India fight for berth of 2012 Olympics
Arch rivals Pakistan and India’s hockey squads are going to fight for getting a berth through direct ticket in 2012 London Olympics. As per the rules of International Hockey Federation (FIH) the winner and runner up of Asian Games get a direct debut in the
Olympics. However, the remaining teams will have to play wild card qualification matches. India, the eight time Olympic Champions failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 after losing in Asian Games, held in Doha.
This time both squads are placed in Pool-B, where they will struggle to acquire the gold medal in the event, which will be the direct ticket to the Olympics. The former Asian Games winner, South Korea will definitely try to defend their title and create
hurdles in the way of both nations. Hockey teams of India and Pakistan are preparing best to win the sports gala.
The previous record of both teams is quite impressive, which will surely boost them for getting down into the field in the upcoming Asiad. The duo squad won many tournaments and series so far.
India has good track record in the Olympics, where it obtained eleven medals out of which eight are gold, one silver and two bronze. It won three medals in Hockey World Cup including gold, silver, and bronze. In the category of Asian Games, it holds 12 medals
including two gold, nine silvers, and one bronze medal. Indian team has also nine medals in its credit in the Asia Cups, in which two are gold, four silvers, and one is bronze medal. It also succeeded four times Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey tournament.
On the other side, Pakistan also has impressive record of victories including eight medals in Olympics category with three gold, three silvers and two bronze medals. It won World Cup title four times and stood second at two occasions. In the Asian Games,
Pakistan acquired eleven medals including seven gold, two silvers and three bronze medals. Some fifteen medals in Champions trophy are also in the credit of Pakistan Hockey Team including three gold medals, six silvers and six bronze. Pakistan has also won
three times Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Cup in Malaysia.
A severe battle will be observed on November 20, 2010 between the arch rival squads, who are in the state of mind to smash each other in the race to win the gold. Withal, the remaining squads will also put their best efforts to beat both Pakistan and India,
which is another challenge for duo teams. South Korea is more confident than the duo squads as it won Asia Cup and Asian games last year and proved itself the best team of the continent.
Indian team is placed in Group B with Pakistan, Japan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong while Group A is comprised of South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Oman and the host China.
Both teams are currently getting training under foreign coaches including Indian Coach Jose Brasa of Spain and Pakistani coach of Dutch nationality Michel Van Heuvel, who are ratifying the best preparations for the upcoming Asian Games. This battle will
also decide the fate of these foreign coaches as duo aggressive nations after defeats first of all target their coaches.
India has plus points psychologically as it thrashed Pakistan in last two matches in the Commonwealth Games and World Cup earlier this year. Conversely, the Pakistani team is also confident with the revival of their old performers Sohail Abbas and Salman
Akbar.
Rajpal Singh the captain of Indian Hockey team said that they are best team in the Asiad and wanted to prove this thing in the upcoming event. He stated that the morale of the team is definitely high after obtaining third place in the recently concluded
Commonwealth Games.
Pakistani skipper, Zeeshan Ashraf said that the match against India would be very crucial for both squads as the winner of the pool would play semi-final against former champions South Korea. He further stated that the country’s hockey is needed a gold medal
to regain its earlier status.
Both squads are in attacking positions; however, the match of November, 20, 2010 will decide the fate of the direct ticket of 2010 London Olympics.
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