Pakistan hockey team warmly welcomed after returning with a silver medal from Malaysia – Hockey News
The Pakistan hockey team players and officials were given a warm welcome today at both the Lahore and Peshawar Airport after returning with silver medals from the Malaysian Invitational, 20th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup that was played in Ipoh recently.
They faced-off the World Number One, Australia in the tournament's final and had almost reached their hands at the golden win. However, the sudden death turned the score dead lock 2-2 into a 3-2 win for Australia.
During their way into the finals, they had an encounter with their arch-rivals India to whom they had promised to avenge the Cricket World Cup semi-final loss on the Malaysian ground. Fortunately, they kept their promise and trounced the Indian counterparts
by 3-1.
It was a relief for the Pakistan public, watching them beat down the Indians with an eminent two-score difference.
As the players reached the Peshawar Airport, they received a grand welcome. While talking to the media persons, Team Captain Muhammad Imran and Manager Khawaja Junaid praised the thorough efforts put in by the team.
On the other hand, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Qasim Zia and PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa reached the Lahore airport. They also praised the team on their performance and congratulated them on the success.
Considering the dark side of the event, the team needs to work on improving their defensive side.
According to the Former Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh, a stronger performance from the goal-keeper’s end was the key factor to win the close matches at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup’s final against Australia.
On the other side, the forward line also needs to improve in the finishing of their drills. Moreover, it was inappropriate to take no reserve goal-keeper with the team in the tournament.
On the bright side, a former hockey team captain Samiullah admitted the fact that he was surprised by the performance given by the team.
“Australia are the best team in the world, however it was very good to see the Green Shirts perform brilliantly against them to take the game into extratime, which frankly I didn’t expect from them,” said Samiullah.
He added that he expects the team to continue with the same momentum for the upcoming Champions Trophy and 2012 London Olympics. It was just hard luck for the team to lose the match in extra-time, otherwise, our side was the stronger one in the finals.
In the mean time, another former player Islahuddin Siddiqui believed that the team should have won the final.
“Pakistan was the team, which came with a full-strength side as compared to Australia and therefore I expected and hoped that Pakistan will win. However, they played well in the final,” said Islah.
However, the prime focus of the team’s coach Michel Van Den Heuvel is to prepare the team for the Champions Trophy in December, this year that will be hosted by New Delhi, India.
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