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| Sohail Abbas enjoys life in the fast lane again |
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Saturday, November 07, 2009
From Khalid Hussain
LILLE, France: After spending a few frustrating years in international hockey wilderness, Sohail Abbas is once again enjoying life in the fast lane.
The Pakistani drag flick ace, who holds the record for scoring the highest number o goals in world hockey, has taken centre stage in the ongoing World Cup Hockey Qualifiers here in this picturesque city in Northern France and is one of the chief reasons why Pakistan have marched into the final without much fuss.
Sohail, who retired in 2004 and then made a brief comeback for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, is the top scorer in the six-nation tournament and is expected to play a pivotal role in Sunday's (tomorrow) final that will be against either hosts France or second seeds Japan.
"I'm enjoying my hockey here," he told 'The News' here at the Lille Metropole Hockey Club - the venue for the tournament. "There is less pressure on me and the goals are boosting my confidence," he added.
Sohail said that he wants to ensure that Pakistan win the tournament and make the cut for the 2010 World Cup to be played in New Delhi from Feb 28-March 13. "We all know that it is very important for Pakistan hockey that we win this tournament and qualify for the World Cup," he said. "All the boys are fully focused on the task and I want to do my bit as well. I'm sure that if we continue to play as a team we will win on Sunday and go on to do well in the World Cup as well," said Sohail, who returned to the Pakistan team in this May's Asia Cup in Kuantan Malaysia.
Sohail was unable to impress much in that tournament in which Pakistan lost in the final to Korea but is in top gear here in Lille.
Shahid Ali Khan, the Pakistan coach, said that Sohail's return to form is a great sign for Pakistan hockey. "Everybody knows that Sohail is a great player and can do wonders for Pakistan hockey," Shahid told this correspondent after Pakistan thrashed Japan 6-1 in their penultimate league match on Thursday. "Now that Sohail is in really good form, I'm sure that our team can achieve positive results."
Shahid, a former Olympian, said that Sohail has regained his lost confidence by scoring goals against competing teams in the World Cup Qualifiers and added that the seasoned player can now play a key role in future events including the World Cup in India. "I'm confident that we will qualify for the World Cup on Sunday and with players like Sohail, we will be able to make our presence felt in India as well."
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ISSN 1563-9479 
