Pakistan to feature in Champions Trophy

The Newspaper's Sports Reporter Published August 10, 2012

-Photo by AFP

LONDON: Pakistan were included in the next Champions Trophy tournament scheduled to be held in Melbourne, Australia in December, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) announced on Friday.

The PHF secretary Asif Bajwaa told Dawn that the decision to include Pakistan in the Champions Trophy was taken by the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) executive committee which ended its two-day meeting here on Friday. PHF president Qasim Zia also attended the meeting, Bajwa added.

Bajwa said Pakistan were included in hockey’s elite eight-nation tournament after the Green-shirts took seventh position in the London Olympics, beating South Korea 3-2 in the classification match on Thursday.

He said India had been given a wildcard entry to make the Melbourne event an eight-team contest.

Bajwa said the Champions Trophy participation would help Pakistan keep fighting among world’s top-ranked teams, adding Pakistan team needed such top-tier events a lot.

“Our hockey is also suffering due to foreign teams not coming to Pakistan on security grounds. Therefore, such competitions [like Champions Trophy] are necessary for us to continue our role at international events,” the PHF official remarked.

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SAMAR

Aug 12, 2012 02:53pm

It reminds me of a moin akhtar's show in which he mentioned the physical condition of pakistani policemen dressed in half -paints.Sorry to say you can not defeat olympic medalist with these poorly nourished legs..

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Shafi

Aug 11, 2012 11:32am

Pak should look for 6th place. PHF is proud of Pak's performances in Olympics and let the team for another disaster in World cup.

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aaa

Aug 11, 2012 11:21am

what's the use if you are not going to utilize these chances & improve

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Dilawer

Aug 11, 2012 01:31pm

Again, take a look at the physical condition of the players. Look at the leg muscles of Player #3. PHF does not have a good fitness program to groom the player. All the money goes to fatten the management pigs.

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Nasim Khan

Aug 11, 2012 03:02pm

Asif Bajwa and Qasim Zia should have a decency to resign form their posts. They of course want these tournaments so they can leach the funds from the government on the pretext of improving Pakistan hockey and make money in travel allowances. They have no remorse for such a sham performance at the London Olympics.

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zzz

Aug 11, 2012 04:31pm

keep wasting these opportunities u all should resign its about time

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syed

Aug 11, 2012 07:19pm

What a shame that Pakistan is happy to be included in Champion's Trophy but any body can guess the outcome of this tournament, again defeat and same old excuses. Why spend huge resources for this tournament instead give scholarship to poor deserving students because from them we might discover honest people who can manage the country and game honestly,efficiently and professionally.

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Ali Vaqar Awan

Aug 11, 2012 08:37pm

Great to see Pakistan going feature in champions trophy. Young players should be taken so they can have idea how game is played in tough sides. Some senior players need to be retained as well. If any improvement has to come, it can come by just learning from past mistakes. Moreover, not repeating it again and again. Pakistan finishing in top5 itself would be big achievement. Any thing above it would be miracle. Our team has to go with proper preparation rather just making up the numbers.

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(Dr.) B.N. Anand

Aug 11, 2012 08:38pm

That is a big concession for our country to have got a wild card entry to this elite tournament. Hope we make full use of this God sent opportunity. We indeed did very bad in Olympics. The future of hockey in the country seems to be not very bright in the country after this performance. BNA

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Sameen Bawla

Aug 11, 2012 10:44pm

With the resources available to our players, thank God for even attaining 7th position. The boys played their level best.

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Ash

Aug 16, 2012 12:25pm

Isn't Hockey supposed to be Pakistan's national game? They are supposed to be good at it! The players did play well in Olympics, I witnessed their game against SA.

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