16th asian games hockey schedule

This story is from November 23, Pakistan stunned South Korea in a nerve-wrecking penalty-shootout to progress to the title round for the first time in 20 years. The last time Pakistan had won the Asian Games was in , in Beijing. Qasim Zia, president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation , described the victory as a shot in the arm for the sport in the country.

Zia said that the team's spirited effort against the Koreans, normally a very tough opponents, and Malaysia's victory over India in the other semifinal, have given him hope of a Pakistan win in the final. So, it is a good thing we are playing Malaysia in the final, but we can't take them lightly at all as they played superb hockey against the in-form Indians today," Zia said. Federal minister for sports, Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, said the victory was a good omen for hockey, which was Pakistan's national sport.

Specially coming on the heels of the women's cricket team's gold medal in the Asian Games," Jakhrani said. The Pakistan hockey federation and the national team has been under fire for their inconsistent performances in recent times.

They finished 12th in the World Cup in New Delhi, and sixth in the Commonwealth Games , in the same city Former Olympians have been calling for the heads of PHF secretary, Asif Bajwa, and some players and have also criticised the appointment of a foreign coach with the team. Surely the competition will be quite tough at the Asian Games as all teams will be vying to make the Olympics cut by winning gold ," he said.

Gold medal-winning country at the Asian Games, starting September 10, automatically qualify for the Olympics. India won a bronze in the Jakarta Games in After almost two years, we will be returning to our favourite venue in Bhubaneswar where we will play double-headers against Spain, Germany, Argentina and England," he said. Additionally, it will give us great opportunity to try out different combinations ahead of Asian Games," he said in a Hockey India release.

Manpreet said the camp will be important to assess their performances from last year and also plan for the year ahead. I feel we have returned to the camp feeling mentally fresh and ready for the challenge ahead.

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