July 15, 2003	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 14, 1424

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KARACHI, July 14: Elated China hockey coach Khawaja Junaid on Monday heaped praise on his side after 3-1 triumph and cited total ineffectiveness of Pakistan strikers as the main reason of hosts’ defeat.

“My boys have done what I asked from them. They played according to the plan and have improved a lot. But the major factor in Pakistan Juniors defeat was the failure of their forwards,” Junaid said in post-match comments.

After losing 5-2, 3-2, to national junior side, and a 6-2 rout by Pakistan Seniors, China scored their first victory when they outplayed Pakistan Juniors 3-1 on Monday.

Junaid, a former Pakistan Olympian, who recently joined China squad, said better possession skills, ball control, and a packed defence allowed his side to register their first win.

The coach expressed surprize over the lack of firepower of the Pakistan Juniors forward-line, saying it could have created trouble had it utilised its true potential.

“There was no movement of the strikers. The bench officials should have asked the forwards to move frequently as shifting of the strikers is a thing which causes trouble even for the Europeans.

“While I am proud of my players’ ability to control the ball and maintaining possession, the Pakistanis lacked the quality of keeping the ball with them,” he said.

According to Junaid, it was also his instruction to the players to maintain tight marking of the opposition which in the end proved decisive.

Junaid was, however, humble when he said the series and a victory would serve as build-up to the Asian Cup which was to be hosted by the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur after two months.

“The victory is a tonic and a sign that the team is moving forward. Although, at the moment we are not the giants, today’s triumph has given the side a tremendous boost ahead of the Asia Cup,” the coach said.

Junaid said with an idea to promote the sport, China was trying to get the hosting rights of the World Cup qualifiers in 2005.

“It will be a breakthrough for China if it is awarded the World Cup qualifiers. China’s women hockey team is a world class outfit, and I can bet my side will be terrorising the giants of the game within few years,” Junaid hoped.

The kind of performance China are giving, they may give a bit resistance to the Pakistan senior side on July 16.