 |
| |
WEEKLY
SECTIONS |
 |
|
 |
| Pakistan eye solid preparations for World Cup |
|
|
|
PHF planning Test series against India and a quadrangular event at home
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
From Khalid Hussain
LILLE, France: Pakistan’s hockey chiefs have chalked out a comprehensive training programme for the national team in a bid to get it ready for next year’s World Cup in India.
Qasim Zia, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president told ‘The News’ that he has planned a series of events over the next few months which include a ‘Test’ series against old rivals India in UAE and a ground-breaking four-nation hockey tournament at home in the lead up to the World Cup to be played from Feb 28-March 13 in New Delhi.
“It is great news for us that our team has qualified for the World Cup,” Qasim said after his team defeated Japan 3-1 in the final of the World Cup Qualifiers here at the Lille Metropole Hockey Club on Sunday evening to make the cut for the quadrennial spectacle. “Now our focus will be on preparing a best possible training programme for the team so that it goes to India full prepared for the World Cup,” he stressed.
Qasim, a former Olympian who was a member of the Pakistan team that won the 1982 World Cup in Bombay (India), said that he is making efforts to line up a three-match Test series in Dubai against India this December. He said that the PHF is also planning to host a four-nation tournament in Lahore next January which he said will bring international hockey back to Pakistan.
“We are working on several options which include having a series against India in Dubai followed by a four-nation event at home,” he said. “Such events will not only help our team prepare for the World Cup but will also provide a boost to hockey back home,” said Qasim, a senior leader of the Pakistan People’s Party in Punjab.
Hockey, Pakistan’s national game, was once the country’s most popular sport. But it has lost most of its sheen over the years because of the national team’s failure to win major titles. Pakistan have not won the Olympics since the 1984 Los Angeles Games and the last of their record four titles came in 1994 in Sydney.
Qasim was confident that Pakistan are on the way to a major revival, adding that he is hopeful that the team will win the Champions Challenge in Argentina next month. “The way our team is playing, I’m very confident that it will also go on to win the Champions Challenge in December,” he said.
The PHF chief said that some tough games in the Champions Challenge which will feature teams like hosts Argentina, India and Belgium will help his boys get ready for the World Cup. “The Champions Challenge will help us begin the final leg of our World Cup preparations,” he said. “We will be playing against some strong teams in Argentina and some good results against them would further boost the morale of the players.”
caption
Pakistan team celebrate after winning the final of the World Cup qualifiers
|
|
|
| Back
| Send
this story to Friend | Print
Version |
|
|
|
ISSN 1563-9479 
