Pakistan and Malaysia vying for Asiad gold
Enlivener Pakistan has found a chance to revive the past glory of hockey by clinching a gold medal against giant killer Malaysia. Pakistan is going to play final against superfine Malaysia in the 16th Asian Games men’s hockey event at Aoti Hockey Centre
Guangzhou in China on November 25, 2010.
Malaysia qualified for the final first ever in Asian Games since 1958, when hockey was included first in Asiad. The six-time bronze medallist, Malaysia will try to re-write the history by acquiring first gold medal in the hockey.
On the other side, Pakistan is looking redemption and revival of past glory, which had lastly contested the final of Asian Games twenty years back in Beijing. Pakistan had won seven gold medals in Asian Games from the period of 1958 to 1990 and dominated
the game in Asia.
The last major title in the credit of Greenshirts was World Cup 1994 held in Sydney. The three-time Olympic gold medallist and four time world champions finished at humiliating 6th and last 10th position in the World Cup and Commonwealth Games earlier this
year.
After finishing at last positions, critics were not expecting such stunning game from Greenshirts; however they proved critics incorrect with outstanding performance in the event. Pakistan in way to final of Asiad overpowered Hong Kong with 12-0, Japan 8-2,
lost to India 2-3, defeated Bangladesh 6-1 and lastly crashed defending champion South Korea 4-3 in penalty shoot-outs.
Opponent Malaysia, which chased the history by defeating India the silver medallist of this year Commonwealth Games, is also hopeful for winning the Asian gala. Malaysia is unbeaten in the event and reached the final by defeating Singapore with 3-0, drawing
the game against South Korea, beating Oman 12-2, overpowering host China with 4-2 and clinching triumph against India with 4-3 in the semi-final.
Both of the finalist squads overpowered opponents in the semi-finals of Asian Games after thrilling games and surprised the hockey fans by beating the favourites India and South Korea.
In the final of Asian Games, forward line of Pakistan hockey team will have to break the superfine defence of Malaysia. Malaysia will not be a cinch for Pakistan in the final and short corners of Pakistan will have to show their performance if they wanted
to win the final.
Legend short corner and world highest goal scorer, Sohail Abbas has not performed as well as he would have liked for the squad as he wasted numerous penalty corners in the event.
Pakistani youngsters Zubair Muhammad and Shafqat Rasool along with legends Shakeel Abbasi and Rehan Butt are the talented attackers, who can the change the results.
In comparison of custodians of duo squads, critics find Salman Akbar of Pakistan better than Malaysian goalkeeper as he performed brilliantly in the tournament and made the victory possible by saving four penalty strokes out of seven in the semi-final against
South Korea. On the other hand, Malaysian goalkeeper, Kumar Subranmaniam is also in good form and blocked many shots of Indian strikers and can give tough time to Greenshirts.
Malaysia showed excellent performance thus far at the attacking and defensive positions while Malaysian short corner specialists Amin Rahim and striker Azlan Misron are hazards for Pakistani defence particularly for the custodian, Salman Akbar. The pair
of Malaysian strikers exceeded all the expectations of Malaysian Coach, Stephen Van Huizen, who put lot of exertions to mode an attacking combination.
Who among the Malaysia and Pakistan will earn the direct ticket to 2012 London Olympics is a difficult question; whether Pakistan, the former super star of Asian Games hockey will break the 16 years impasse, or Malaysia will be successful in stamping the
history by acquiring firs ever gold in Asiad.
At this point, no critic will predict about the results of the final of 16th Asiad as the duo squads are in position to create record in the field of hockey.
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