KARACHI, April 2: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) aims to win the Champions Trophy and secure gold medal in next year’s Athens Olympics.

“Though these are tough events but if our boys demonstrate the same vigour and play to potential they can achieve the goal” PHF Chief Gen. Muhammad Aziz Khan told newsmen Tuesday evening after greeting the team at Quaid-e-Azam International Airport on their return from Ipoh, Malaysia after lifting Azlan Shah Cup.

“Our victory is a boost for task in Champions Trophy and Olympics. We picked the team with focus on blend of youth and experience. It delivered magnificently” he added.

He said it was a nice feeling that boys lived to the expectations of the nation.

“We don’t want to create media hype because boys must look ahead for Champions Trophy and Olympic to accomplish their task. We are looking to regain all those titles we lost, specially Champions Trophy which Pakistan launched”, he pointed out.

Sitting with victorious captain Muhammad Nadeem and coach Shahnaz Shaikh, he said when he saw players singing the national anthem before the final their faces were beaming with confidence which was a great sign.

He remarked that it is a welcome turn around that the team had started winning ways and hopfully will continue same way in the coming events.

General Aziz said he is fully aware that boys worked very hard in the training camp and during Azlan Shah Cup and hard work paid dividends.

Responding to a question about incentives to the players, he said at the moment there are no such plans but he was making efforts for their regularisation in their departments.

Later skipper Muhammad Nadeem ND has said that he was delighted with his team’s performance and victory.

“It was a great team effort and hard work put in by the boys bore fruits”, he said

He said boys geared up to do well in coming event and they were looking ahead to regain the Champions Trophy being held in Netherlands later this year.

Besides the Champion’s Trophy, Nadeem said they were eyeing to win the 2004 Olympic Gold in Athens.

He praised the members of the team and said senior players goalkeeper Ahmed Alam and half back Wasim Ahmed greatly helped him.

He negated that he was under pressure keeping in view the team’s dismal showing last year.

Meanwhile, President General Pervez Musharraf is happy with Pakistan hockey team’s triumph in Azlan Shah Cup.

“President is taking keen interest in hockey and was glad with the team’s performance in Ipoh (Malaysia)”, Gen Aziz said.

President is keeping update with the progress of the hockey team, he said.

PHF chief said President Musharraf was the first person to call him and congratulatee him on team’s victory in Azlan Shah Cup.—APP