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Pakistan hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup were shattered by a lively Korean side, whose 2-1 win in the semi-final of the Asia Cup meant that the Greenshirts will not be part of hockey’s most prestigious event for the first time in the game’s history.
Pakistan, the most successful team in hockey with four World Cup titles (1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994) needed to win the Asian event to claim the sole qualifying ticket from this tournament.
The loss means India have virtually qualified for the 2014 World Cup and Malaysia have confirmed their ticket to The Hauge, Holland, where the tournament will be played.
“This is indeed bad news for Pakistan hockey as we are out of the World Cup. Before coming here, we knew this was our final chance of making it to the World Cup … unfortunately we lost (to South Korea),” coach Tahir Zaman said while talking to Sports247.
“We have to live with the reality now and we will have to make a long-term plan for Pakistan hockey,” he added.
The Greenshirts, who had thumped Japan, hosts Malaysia and Chinese Taipei in the run up to the semi-final, had only themselves to blame for their loss after squandering several opportunities in front of goal against a quality opposition.
The first came as early as the third minute when they earned a penalty corner. Captain Muhammad Imran, however, could not make it count. It set both players in motion, though, and the Koreans were the first to strike in the 31st minute through Jong Hyun’s penalty corner.
Another missed penalty corner by Pakistan meant that Korea went into half-time 1-0 up and with a lot of confidence.
They started in the same vein in the second half and doubled their lead in the 40th minute when Lee Nam Yong tapped home a saved penalty corner.
Pakistan pulled a goal back six minutes later from their third penalty corner of the game, Imran finally coming good with his effort.
Pakistan found their stride after their first goal, but once again missed the target for the all-important equaliser. With time running out, they replaced their goalkeeper with a kicking back but to no avail.
“It is sad Pakistan couldn’t make it to the World Cup, but I would like to congratulate Malaysia and India who are virtually through to the competition,” said South Korea coach Shin Seok Kyo.
“Our aim now is to win create history by winning the Asia Cup the fourth time.”
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Comments (51) Closed
Aug 30, 2013 07:13pm
3 positives signs for Pakistan hockey:
a. We will not loose to India
b. We will not be last in the world cup
c. Our hockey structure will improve and corrupted board members will be quit (I hope)
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Aug 30, 2013 07:15pm
I am not surprised ! Why should sports be immune to the incompetence that is destroying our country ?
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Aug 30, 2013 07:38pm
so basically the first match with a quality opposition revealed how useless this team is... so we expected to beat Germany, Holland, Spain, Australia? keep dreaming... sports in Pakistan are done because according to the so called Muslims taking over Pakistan slowly any sport is un-Islamic... our entire country in every aspect is falling apart ..utterly useless in every aspect.
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Aug 30, 2013 07:40pm
good job Pakistan! continue your useless progress!
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Aug 30, 2013 07:40pm
no surprise here business as usual just like everything else in Pakistan ..."utterly useless"
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Aug 30, 2013 07:47pm
absolutely "foreign hand".. Sweden, Finland, Peru, New Zealand and all these other infidel countries caused this defeat...
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Aug 30, 2013 08:07pm
Shocked! South koria got too many panelty corners against India, now they could amend their mistake. they could shoch PK. ..PK the world class team out of world cup is realy shocking.
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Aug 30, 2013 08:07pm
@Dr. Zaheer Malik:
What the hell is Islam to do with it. You stupid man.
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Aug 30, 2013 08:08pm
Shocking 1
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Aug 30, 2013 08:11pm
No problem, no credibility, this is just a start, it will be followed by several absences from the world cup, no problem. I feel bad for the players who worked so hard. Leaders of nations and nation itself doesn't care, they are already asleep.
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Aug 30, 2013 08:27pm
A defeat at this stage is much better than the humiliation of finishing LAST in the World Cup. Well done PHF !!!!!!!
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Aug 30, 2013 08:29pm
@Shafi:
1st 2 signs are spot on .. for third .. i doubt !!
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Aug 30, 2013 08:31pm
this "tragic" loss is a conspiracy, it was done at the "behest" of "foreign hand".
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Aug 30, 2013 08:33pm
We have lost a game of hockey that does not mean everything, anything is useless and all that..
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Aug 30, 2013 08:40pm
Naseem,
Do not worry India will take the 12th place in world cup. The Asian Dominance is over in hockey after the introduction of Astro Turf. We are still third world country fighting for basisc needs. We should be happy if India beats Pakistan in cricket or hockey or vice versa where Pakistan beats India same way. The crooked and corrupt politicians of both countries looted the both countries. Just move on and that;s it.
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Aug 30, 2013 08:44pm
The real question is if there is going to be any accountability at PHF level. Would there be any meaningful changes including the selection, coaching and management of hockey affairs in Pakistan. Would there be any serious thought of having a quality training facility in the country. The chaotic state of mind in the country is showing up in all aspects of collapse in Pakistan. Well, we are very capable of reaching the new lows and that is what we can expect next.
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Aug 30, 2013 08:47pm
I knew it in advance and have also written about it in one of the dawn's blog as a comment . Do not fell sorry for the green shirts cos they themselves are responsible for taking it " as granted in the world league to qualify for the world cup " Incidentally their tormentors in the World League were also Koreans ..... With such teams as Korea , India , Malaysia in their way , it was Almost impossible task that they will go on to win the Asia cup and thus qualify for the WC . Like in the world league , in the asia cup , before it started , there were bigbang type slogans that we will do this we will do that , we will win and we are favorite , a self praising slogan mongering which is now part andd parcel of Big talking low on production so called Super stars ..... on going cricket tour of Zimbabewa , " we will win as clean sweep " was the claim , the defeat in the 1st ODI with 7 wickets the oppisition breaking the 15 years record , showed the true stamina and true potential of the YoYo cricketers , win the the T20 matches , like hokey players , win in the group stages went into the head
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Aug 30, 2013 08:49pm
They were a better team midfield but got nervous and fumbled every time they got in the Korean D. We are developing a losers mindset in every sport. Our teams need motivation training as much as the standard coaching.
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Aug 30, 2013 08:52pm
@Naseem Chaudry:
Just like you?
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Aug 30, 2013 08:54pm
@Dr. Zaheer Malik:
What has islam got to with this loss. If anything, it is the absence of true islamic values in our society which is the cause of our decline in almost every sphere of life. The proof is the deeply ingrained corruption in our society. If we became true muslims we would succeed in everything as islam teaches honesty and sincerety in everything a muslim does
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Aug 30, 2013 08:55pm
..from administration to coaches, to selection panel to selected players..."utterly useless" the real talent will never got any hope or opportunity ... same sad story everywhere totally useless state of affairs in the country.
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Aug 30, 2013 09:36pm
..useless team useless hockey federation of Pakistan what did we expect? like others have mentioned every aspect of Pakistan is turning out to be "utterly useless" by passing day..
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Aug 30, 2013 09:50pm
@Dr. Zaheer Malik:
Sports should be least priority at this time. There are more pressing issues... like terrorism, energy crisis and economy.
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Aug 30, 2013 09:58pm
A nation that looks always at it's past glory can never proceed further. There has been many wrong doings in the past which leads to this - missing out the world cup next year!
Bad luck! Try to learn from mistakes and look up to your future. Forget your past, your no more Hockey Giant since decades!
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Aug 30, 2013 10:06pm
I understand everyone is upset about the dismal performances, however when there is no talent what can you do? Everyone wants to play cricket and become a millionaire. No one wants to play hockey because there is no money. Its the same thing in our education where everyone wants to be a doctor or engineer or pass CSS and get some lucrative administrative position. 99% of the time the left overs get the positions in jobs which are critical to our well being but dont pay very well. Some of them are becoming a judge, a lawyer, a banker, a technician, clerks/typist/other assistants in govt. offices, going into the army etc.etc. You can't blame the managers of those departments because thats the talent they got to work with.
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Aug 30, 2013 10:15pm
I saw match and Pakistan team is really well. They were unfortunate in not converting good opportunities in goal. Always wanted to see India and Pakistan final.
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Aug 30, 2013 10:22pm
As a nation, we tend to live in the past. How we can be the most successful team in the WC history when the last success was 20 years back ? Nostalgia won't buy us any thing. Also, as reported, this news is not "sorrow" at all. Showing up in the world cup and performing extremely poorly is no different than "not" getting a chance in the world cup. If things are consistently failing, there must be a reason behind it. We have crushed squash, hockey and are almost there with cricket.
Shahryar.
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Aug 30, 2013 10:28pm
@Shahryar Shirazi:
That's why the situation is so sad! We were so good once that no team has been able to match their record even today! That's something to be proud of and we should aim to be like that again....that is why history should be kept in perspective but one obviously must not live in the past!
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Aug 30, 2013 10:53pm
Re. rashid dar - You are right. That "foreign hand" is PHF.
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Aug 30, 2013 11:13pm
The coach should have resigned on his own. Now, he must be dismissed.
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Aug 30, 2013 11:31pm
Dont expect hockey to perform when there are not enough funds for the team, while cricket team is touring around the world, and trying to play a test match under flood lights.
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Aug 30, 2013 11:58pm
Following steps should be taken immediately:
1. Disband PHF
2. Freeze PHF budget and suspend all current operations
3. Kick out the super corrupt secretary Asif Bajawa
4. Form an ad hoc team of 3-4 members having executive management background e.g. former CEO, CFO etc.
5. Absolutely no involvement of former players like Shahnaz Shaikh, Islahuddin, Hanif Khan, Tahir Zaman or any other form that era.
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Aug 31, 2013 12:33am
It is sad to see Pakistani team lose such a heart breaker. As an Indian I would like to see both Pakistan and India to succeed at the highest International level. The future of hockey in the sub-continent depends one of us continue to win medals.
Astroturfs have made game a lot faster and physical.You need more raw speed, agility and stamina on Astroturf than our players are used to who grew on playing on grass. If Hockey has any future then you need to invest on more astro=turfs and physical training of the players. Good luck next time.
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Aug 31, 2013 01:02am
@Junaid:
Agree with everything you said except dismal performance. Only one team had to win.
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Aug 31, 2013 02:40am
Sad. Pak. India are citadel of classic and stylish hockey. They must stay at top. But western amend every rule which suit them I.e. fast and physical force hockey. It is not real stick work but force work. We take all lying down. Don't worry only those rise who fall. One who walks on knee can not rise again. Work hard next time you will be top.
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Aug 31, 2013 04:18am
The news of Pakistan not qualifying for the WC had triggered a sea of mixed emotions in me. I am unsure if I am hurt, sad, dismayed, angry or frustrated. The writing had been long on the wall and this came as no surprise. It is a hard pill to swallow especially for those who lived through the glory days of Pakistan hockey during late 70's, 80's and beyond. The slide started in the late 90's and there was no stopping it. Blatant corruption, nepotism and lack of planning by politicians and administrators alike have long been eating away at the whole country. We have all witnessed the widening cracks by the minute and everyone knew that weakening foundation was going to cave in. Congratulations to those who were adamant on bringing down the house for a long time, for finally succeeding. Mission accomplished! I am sure a number of them have already moved on with their lives (with all paid lavish foreign trips and shopping sprees at the expense of poor people) and working diligently on destroying other organizations. I applaud them for making the concerted effort to demolish everything and for being so consistent. Yes, yes, and yes! Millions of us detest you for your no good contribution and for dashing the dreams of many. It is a foregone conclusion that all of you have no conscience but God does work in mysterious ways. Remember the cliche "what goes around comes around".
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Aug 31, 2013 04:57am
India had this humiliation some years ago now it's Paks turn. Asian hockey is dead
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Aug 31, 2013 04:59am
This morning my day started very well. I got the opportunity to meet Mr. Jermey Newberry, a very brave Forty-Niner football team member. It was a treat for me to meet him and talk to him face to face. He 's got a ring and was a very good player in his days. now, he appears on the television to cover football events. I found him very down to earth and seems like a great guy. Just like Joe, Jerry, Roni, Steve, Keena or tom or other forty-niners. I was feeling great all day long until I read that Pakistan did not qualify for the field hockey world cup. Very sad. PM sahib sack all the PHF from top to the bottom.
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Aug 31, 2013 06:04am
it is very sad that we would not be able to see pakistan playing in the next world cup, We are with pakistan and hope that team will learn a lesson from this defeat and make a long term planning to do better in future-From an indian fan of Asian Hockey
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Aug 31, 2013 06:56am
@anil:
I also watched some portions of Pakistan's matches.
I am Indian, and I admit that Pakistan is as good as Korea or India.
Today they missed many opportunities.
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Aug 31, 2013 07:52am
@Dr. Zaheer Malik:
What crap !!! I am sorry to say this .. but can`t stop laughing at your comments....
But sad to see talent getting wasted... I don`t want to mix cricket here.. but i really feel sorry for Mohd Amir... What a waste of talent !!!!
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Aug 31, 2013 08:03am
Pakistan should learn from those Indians. They are better in every field of every sports. But Pakistan can beat them if theyy plaay very bad and we play very good. Insha alla.
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Aug 31, 2013 02:51pm
@rashid dar:
love the sarcasm sir !!!
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Aug 31, 2013 06:56pm
Even though India qualified , we are not upto the standards as Hollands and Germanys. So why can't we have a combine practice sessions where we can learn the new type of playing hockey! If All the Asian countries should come together then there is a chance of making that happen and who knows again we could have u.at Asian domination in hockey!
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Aug 31, 2013 07:09pm
Pakistan & India , both are low calibre teams, good enough to play in Asian competition but against European & Australian teams they are at the bottom of the heap.Days of Indo-Pak style of hockey are over.Both countries have tried foreign coaches, it did not help. Field Hockey is dead in the subcontinent.
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Aug 31, 2013 08:29pm
@Shahryar Shirazi:
AoA. What makes you think I'm Pakistani? I'm not. I'm *shat pratishat Bharatiya, bhagwan kasam!* Though I would love to go to Pakistan some day.
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Aug 31, 2013 08:32pm
@Afif Naeem:
I think Atif is right. My brother used to play Hockey with Sohail Abbas but could never make it to the National team. He was saying that there is no incentive for the parents to put their children into the Hockey camps because there is no future. Whereas in cricket, you can make a decent living even if you make it to the National side and play for couple of years. But again, I am not saying that there is no corruption in the Hockey Management.
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Aug 31, 2013 08:41pm
@rashid dar:
All the "goals" are "self inflicted"
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Aug 31, 2013 10:10pm
May I say thank you to our Pakistani neighbors for helping India qualify for the World Cup.
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Aug 31, 2013 11:13pm
No IND VS PAK final........sad!!!
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Sep 01, 2013 05:35am
''mere pyare Bharatwasion'' , before sprinkling salt on someone else's wound, pls remember you are banned from Olympics. so stop thrwoing stones at PHF and politicians and 'foreign hand' comments.
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