KARACHI, July 25: For a nation obsessed with sports, Pakistan has very little to boast about when it comes to the Olympics and even the most optimistic fans see few hopes of any medals in Beijing.Pakistan has won just two medals in individual events — both bronze — in wrestling (Rome 1960) and boxing (Seoul 1988).

Its once dominant hockey team, meanwhile, has finished on the podium eight times but this time they are likely to be making up the numbers.

“Our only hopes are from the hockey team, as Pakistan will be featuring in the other three disciplines through wild card entries and has no chances of winning any medal,” said Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) President Syed Arif Hasan.

Besides a 16-member hockey team, Pakistan is sending two athletes (male and female), two swimmers (male and female) and one shooter — all on wild cards — in a contingent of 37, including 16 officials.

Pakistan are placed in group ‘B’ of the 12-nation hockey event. Reigning Olympic champions Australia, Holland, Canada, Great Britain and South Africa are other teams in the pool.

Germany, Spain, South Korea, New Zealand, Belgium and China are placed in pool ‘A’.

But Pakistan, who boast four world and three Olympic titles, are no longer contenders. Having won hockey gold medals in Rome (1960), Mexico (1968) and Los Angeles (1984), Pakistan’s last Olympic hockey medal was a bronze in the Barcelona Olympics 16 years ago.

Former Olympian Hanif Khan believes it will be a miracle if Pakistan win again.

“Pakistan is losing to minor teams like Belgium, so I don’t see any chance for us to win a medal. With India failing to qualify for the first time, I think this Olympic hockey event will not be for the subcontinent,” said Hanif, a member of the gold-winning Pakistan team 24 years ago.

Pakistan won a boxing bronze at Seoul through Hussain Shah but although their pugilists have regularly qualified for the Olympics since

then they have come home empty-handed.

“The boxing situation is worse, we have come down badly and that is why we failed in all qualifying competitions,” said Ali Akbar Shah, former secretary of the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF).

Wrestler Mohammad Bashir won a bronze in the 1960 Olympics but the sport has slipped into obscurity in Pakistan, where cricket has surpassed hockey as the national obsession.

Swimmer Kiran Khan and athlete Sadaf Siddiqui are the two females in Pakistan’s contingent, but both have modest ambitions.

“It is a dream come true to represent Pakistan at the Olympics and my aim will be to better my own national record, because I know it would be too tough to even qualify for the next stage,” said Kiran, 18.

Rubab Raza became the first female swimmer in Pakistan when she jumped in Olympic pool at the Athens Games four years ago, finishing fifth out of eight in a 50-metre freestyle heat.

Sadaf, a sprinter, is likely to run in the 100 or 200 meters as wildcard entrants are allowed to compete in only one event. She too realises the enormity of the task.

“For me mere competing is an honour, so I will try to keep my head high because the Olympic spirit is all about competing,” stated Sadaf.

Hurdler Abdul Rasheed is likely to run in the 110-meter race, while shooter Mohammad Siddiq Umar is due to compete in rifle shooting event, but they too know that medals are unlikely.—AFP