Former Olympians and fans mourned the darkest day in Pakistan's sporting history after the former field hockey titans failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time ever. Pakistan went down 2-1 to South Korea in the Asia Cup semi-final in Malaysia, a tournament they needed to win to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in the Netherlands.

The Greenshirts won the inaugural competition in 1971 and triumphed again in 1978, 1982 and 1994.

Three-time Olympic gold medallists, Pakistan have suffered a serious slump in field hockey. Their only triumph since 1994 was the Asian Games title in 2010.

Olympian Shahnaz Shaikh said he felt heart-broken at hockey's downfall.

“Why I am alive to see this day?” said Shaikh, vice-captain of Pakistan's triumphant 1978 World Cup team.

“It's sad, sad and sad, we have seen this day when the masters of hockey have come to this stage.”

The juniors drove home the point by finishing 9th in the 16-nation Junior World Cup in New Delhi. (Agencies)

Maria makes history

Pakistan’s squash player Maria Toorpakai Wazir put her name in the history books by winning the first ever women’s event in the Nash Cup in Canada by beating Milou van der Heijden of the Netherlands 13-11, 11-3, 11-9.

The victory gave Maria, who hails from South Waziristan, the third title of her WSA career after she won the Southwest Squash Open and the Liberty Bell Open last year in the US and was another milestone in her journey of immense courage and perseverance.

The biggest surprise

Sixteen young Pakistani women made history as they competed in the 2013 Kabaddi World Cup — the first time the country ever fielded an international women's team in the sport.

Having decided to build the women's team, the authorities wrote to top sports organisations and educational institutions, collecting a group of girls coming from diverse sporting backgrounds.

Half already represented various other sports like athletics, weightlifting and racket games, while a few new players also earned a place in the team.

They surprised the world, beating Denmark, England and Mexico en route to the semi-finals and narrowly missing out on a bronze-medal finish. (AFP)

Forward but no silverware

Pakistan's football team showed improvement in results and rankings but failed to win silverware yet again. They came close to winning the Phillipines Peace Cup but lost at the final hurdle. Under former coach Zavisa Milosavljevic of Serbia and his predecessor Mohammed Al Shamlan of Bahrain, they finished the year in 172nd spot in the FIFA rankings, having started 2013 in 189th. At club level, national champions Khan Research Laboratories became the first team to play in the final of continental competition when they reached the showpiece of the AFC President's Cup. Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), meanwhile, got recognition from the AFC;bagging the AFC Aspiring Member Association award. With new talent coming through, it is hoped that the national team would improve further next year. (Umaid Wasim)

Aisam continues to slug away

Teaming up with Dutch partner Jean-Julien Rojer, Aisam captured his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 team title at Miami and reached the US Open quarter-final for a fourth straight year. He won second ATP World Tour team title of 2013 and their fourth trophy with a two-set win over Bjorkman-Lindstedt in the Stockholm final. The year 2014 will see Aisam reunite with former partner Rohan Bopanna of India.

Asif continues his run

World amateur snooker champion Mohammad Asif announced that he would go professional next year after getting $20,000 in sponsorship from an entrepreneur.The 31-year-old Pakistani won the amateur title in Bulgaria in 2012 and had been waiting since for cash assistance to fulfil his childhood dream of joining the professional circuit. After winning the world title, Faisalabad-based Asif also won the 6-Red Asian Championship in Doha and IBSF World Team Snooker crown with Mohammad Sajjad in Carlow a few months ago which are testament to his class and stature as a sportsman. (Agencies) Photos by Agencies