Once world-beaters, Pakistan desperately seek revival of national sport

Anish Anand


Lack of a proper domestic structure and a system of rewards seems to be a biggest worry for Pakistan hockey.

Pakistan's glorious relationship with the men's Hockey World Cup can only be matched by India and their tryst with the Summer Olympics. No country has won more Olympic gold medals — eight — in hockey than India. No nation has won more World Cups — four — than Pakistan. There's also an aspect of similarity with regard to their decline in the sport. India last won an Olympic medal in 1980 while Pakistan's last World Cup triumph came in 1994. India's suffering was encapsulated by its failure to make the cut for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and its last-place finish at London 2012. Across the border, Pakistan, too, did not qualify for the 2014 World Cup and missed the bus for the 2016 Rio Olympics.