Pakistan hockey keeps on sinking even in the year 2017

Muhammad Ali



Pakistan hockey’s consolations in the dismal year 2017 was that they won a bronze medal at the Asia Cup after defeating South Korea in a classification match for third position at Dhaka, Bangladesh in October, and qualified for the World Cup 2018 after finishing poor seventh at World Hockey League in London in June. That was the sum of our ‘achievements’ in a sport in which once we were the top dogs in the world. After remaining at top of the hockey world for more than three decades, it is lamentable that a country who won Olympic gold thrice, World Cup four times, Asia Cup thrice, Asian Games gold record eight times, Asian Champions Trophy gold twice, FIH Champions Trophy gold thrice and remained unbeatable at regional level for many years are now a lowly team. Due to country’s obsession with cricket these days, Pakistan hockey has been relegated to the background due to the Pakistan government’s indifferent attitude towards the national sport.