Pakistan Hockey: Zeeshan still haunted by the miserable failure at the World Cup
Pakistan Hockey team gave a terrible performance at the Hockey World Cup that took place in New Delhi, earlier this year. The team ended up in the 12th position at the World Cup. Now that there are only two days left
for the Commonwealth Games to start in New Delhi, the captain of the Pakistan Hockey Team, Zeeshan Ashraf has a huge responsibility on him regarding the performance of the team at the tournaments. Some nine athletes of the Pakistan Hockey team were banned
on doping grounds last month. This is again one of the reasons why Zeeshan is under great pressure, the most important one being their epic failure at the World Cup. Pakistani hockey players have arrived in New Delhi and are staying at the much criticised
and alleged Games Village in New Delhi. The captain was interviewed by the Hindustan Times on Thursday.
Zeeshan came out of his retirement after the pathetic loss of the Pakistan Hockey team at New Delhi some four months back. He told the correspondents that the team has worked hard for the Commonwealth Games and has practiced well
enough to land in the list of contenders of the gold medal. He also confessed that the pathetic loss of the team is a constant haunt for the team in general and for him in particular since he will have to bear the responsibility of the team’s performance at
the Games.
He went on to say that he wants to keep up with the benchmark that was set by the Pakistan Hockey team at the Melbourne Games in 2006. The Pakistan hockey team was the runner up to the winner at the event. Zeeshan said that the
first goal of the team will be to get to the semi finals and then to clinch the gold medal. He was confident that the boys are well prepared to give a tough time to some of the best teams at the tournaments. He added that it is the last event ahead of the
Asian Games scheduled to take place in November. The event that will be taking place in China will get the team a direct entry into the London Olympics of 2012. Zeeshan said that at the Commonwealth Games, the team will get a chance to notice where it lacks
and the areas that need progress for the Asian Games.
In the interview with the Hindustan Times, Zeeshan Ashraf also appreciated and acknowledged the hard work of the new Dutch coach, Michel van den Huevel, who was appointed to train the team after its failure at the World Cup. He
said that the coach has been very dedicated to the team and has proved to be “beneficial” for the boys. He further said that the boys have developed a comfortable working relationship with the new coach, and that he looked after the team’s preparation for
the Commonwealth Games with all his heart.
When the coach was approached by the media persons, before the team had departed for New Delhi, he had his doubts about the team clinching the gold medal at the Games. He said that first he would work towards improving the world
ranking of the team. Michel also ensured the fans a very good performance by the team at the Asian Games that will follow the Commonwealth Games.
It will not be very easy for the Pakistan Hockey team to reach the semi finals, especially when they will have to encounter teams like Australia, Malaysia and Scotland. The expectations of the fans and the officials of the Pakistan
Hockey Federation have their expectations low from the team after the World Cup matches. Pakistani athletes are also being accused of posing a security threat to the Commonwealth Games, and under such circumstances team Pakistan will be subjected to great
pressure.
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