LAHORE: Asian hockey champions Pakistan were accorded a grand welcome when it landed at the Allama Iqbal International Airport here on Saturday night.

The national hockey team grabbed gold in Asian Games, Guangzhou, China after two decades.

The champions were garlanded, showered with rose-petals and the fans escorted the winners on their shoulders out of the airport as soon as they came out of the arrivals lounge.

Scores of fans gathered outside the airport long before the team arrived from China, braving the nip in the air brought about by the drop in temperature in the city.

The large crowd danced to traditional drum beats to celebrate the title victory which had eluded Pakistan for the past twenty years and chanted “Pakistan Zindabad” (long live Pakistan).

Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Olympian Qasim Zia and PHF officials received the victorious team at the airport.

Talking to media, team captain Zeeshan Ashraf said that the longed-for hockey title would usher in an era of success for hockey in the country. He also thanked the nation for according such a warm welcome.

He urged big organisations to sponsor hockey in Pakistan in order to encourage the players.

PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa said the next target of the national team was Olympics 2012 and Hockey World Cup 2014.

He congratulated the entire nation on the glorious victory of team at the Asian Games.

Goal-keeper Salman Akbar dedicated his gold medal to the victims of the recent floods in the country.