Sohail hoping for a fruitful comeback
Sohail Abbas, the penalty corner specialist and legendary player of Pakistan Hockey expressed hopes for a successful return in the upcoming Asian Games starting from November 13 in China.
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) irritated by the bad performance of the team in Commonwealth Games had decided to recall the World’s best goal scorer for the upcoming Asian tournament. The federation is under pressure following the team’s dismal performance
in the Commonwealth Games where it stood at 6th position.
After being included in the team, the short corner specialist has uttered optimistic views for the Asian Games. Sohail Abbas stated that he was expecting to play in the Guangzhou Asian Games and wanted to deliver his best for Pakistan.
“Pakistan has given me everything and I am looking forward to contribute something for the country in the Asian Games. I was deeply disappointed with Pakistan's 4-7 loss to arch-rivals India in Commonwealth Games”, the highest goal scorer of hockey added.
World’s best short corner specialists, Sohail Abbas had been fired from PHF’s central contract list and was also not chosen for Commonwealth Games because he missed a training camp prior to the Europe Tour. His payments were also blocked by the federation.
Drag flicker Sohail Abbas has been included in the 25-man preliminary team list along with Khalid Bhatti and Kashif Javed for the upcoming Asian Games. They joined training camp’s last day in Islamabad.
Hockey officials were of the view that the penalty corner specialist, Sohail Abbas, would have to prove his fitness and form in the camp and in national trials to get a place in the team.
Sohail Abbas said that he was fully fit and preparing himself for the future tasks. "I am always ready to play for Pakistan and I am fully fit and have training while I was out of the team. My form is good and I will try to give my best”, he opined. Sohail
stated that he was ready to make a successful return after spending several months out of the team.
Sohail Abbas, an international legend in hockey, had scored his best eight goals in Olympics 2000. Seven out of eight goals were obtained from penalty corners. He has an extraordinary scoring rate of 250 goals in 200 games. He also has the fastest century
and double century of goals.
Abbas scored 300 goals till December 09, 2009 and surpassed 22-year old record of Dutch striker, Paul Litjens. He retired from Hockey in 2004 following the Champions Trophy at the age of 27 years but he rejoined the team in July 2006.
Hockey’s critics may cull the team as too unsound to hold the Asian title but drag flicker Abbas expressed hopes that Pakistan’s team can perform unpredicted in Asian Games. “It’s not a bad side but what we need is to give our best. We have to play well
to win titles”, he admitted.
Sohail said that they would have to work hard against all the teams as this was the only way to win the title.
Sohail Abbas stated that he had a great desire to serve the country for winning a major trophy before his retirement. “It’s something that is very much in my mind”, he said expressing Pakistan has never won a World title during his far-famed career. “It
would be great if Pakistan win the Asian Games because it will fill a big void”, he added.
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