Pakistan Hockey's senior and junior side to face crucial step for being part of 2012 London Olympics
As both the senior men national hockey team and the Under-19 men hockey side of the country have set off to participate in the one-month long Europe tour and the Singapore junior Asia Cup, respectively, it is high time to observe how the teams and players
will perform.
According to sources, the performance given by teams in these international events will make the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) decide whether to revise the squad for the 2012 London Olympic Games ahead or to continue with no changes.
All the PHF pundits will sit together at the end of both these competitions, until August, and chalk out plans for the the Olympics. Sources said, “The senior team’s tour of Europe and the Junior Asia Cup are two very important events for Pakistan especially
in view of their preparations for the Olympic Games next summer. The two events will help the PHF to decide on the fate of the country’s senior players and that whether any of the junior team players will strengthen Pakistan’s Olympic squad.”
In light of the potential players existing within Pakistan’s junior side, their chief coach, Rana Mujahid, believes that there are three to four players in the Under-19 squad who have the ability to be a part of the national side of the country.
Rana had trained these boys for the Junior Asia Cup and is confident and positive about their performance there. According to him, the boys have a lot of talent and will produce some good results in the Singapore cup, starting from June 17-26.
It is expected that the team will defend their last year’s title that the team won in Myanmar. Mujahid further stated that if they prove themselves in the Junior Asia Cup, then he himself will recommend the players for the national team.
In absence of the arch-rivals, India, Pakistan will be opening the tournament and Rana believes their absence to be a favourable thing for Pakistan's junior side.
However, Mujahid shared his concern by saying, “But teams like Malaysia and Korea are really good and we will have to give our best to win the title. Right now hockey is on the way up and I believe that we can do our bit by winning the title in Singapore.”
Since 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Pakistan never became successful to bring home more of the Olympic medals in hockey and has a past record of three gold medal wins at the Olympics.
Moreover, no other medal finish could be secured as the team came across failures in the last three Olympic appearances in 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics.
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