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| September 26, 2003 | Friday | Rajab 28, 1424 |
Pakistan and India to face dogged opposition
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25: The flair of India and Pakistan’s players will seek to overcome the true grit of South Korea and Japan in the semifinals of the Asia Cup on Friday.
While India and Pakistan have always relied on artistry and individual skill to win matches, the Koreans and Japanese are traditionally renowned on sheer hard work and doggedness to get results.
South Korea are the defending champions and are looking to win their third consecutive title after their triumph in 1994 and 1999.
And up against them is India, a team that has never won the Asia Cup since its inception in 1982.
To make matters worse for the Indians, they have failed to get the better of the Koreans ever since the gold medal triumph at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.
“India are a skilful team and it will be difficult to overcome them this time around,” admitted Korean team manager Jeon Jae-Hong.
“We just cannot allow them to play their normal free flowing hockey and as such the players have to remain focused throughout the match.
“I expect the match to go either way but we are quite capable of punishing any lapses in their defence.”
For India, the absence of Jugraj Singh, who gave the tournament a miss as he is recovering from injuries sustained in a car crash, is still being felt.
“We are still at a loss when it comes to penalty corners and Jugraj could have made the difference,” said Indian coach Rajinder Singh.
“But I am confident that if we take the chances that come our way, we will be able to get the better of Korea and make the final.”
In the other semi final Pakistan pack too much power for Japan to trouble them and should make their fifth final in six outings.
Players like Kashif Jawwad, Sohail Abbas and Nadeem Ahmad are potential match winners and the Japanese will find it tough to contain the fast and skilful Pakistani forwards.
“We have not won the Asia Cup for 14 years and that is a long time. Getting past Japan will not be easy but we are confident of doing it,” said Pakistan coach Tahir Zaman.
“We hope to be in Sunday’s final and my personal wish is that India makes it too so we can serve another classic to hockey fans.”
WasEEm earns 200 Caps
One of the most talented left-halves in business, Waseem Ahmed became the fifth Pakistani to reach 200th caps in international hockey circuit after Shahbaz Ahmed, Tahir Zaman, Mansoor Ahmed, Muhammad Usman.
He played his 200th international hockey match in the Asia Cup hockey tournament at Kuala Lumpur on Sept 24 when Pakistan inflicted 4-2 win over India in the Group-B encounter.
Waseem also struck a precious goal in his 200th international when he converted PakistanIs first penalty-corner by beating Indian keeper Deves Chahan all ends up. This goal arrived when the match was evenly balanced at 2-2.
Waseem is also well-poised to become most-capped midfielder of Pakistan’s hockey history as to outpace 210-cap record of Muhammad Usman is well within his reach.
Born at Vihari, in Punjab Province, on Apr 10, 1977, Waseem made international debut during 16th Champions Trophy 1996 at Chennai, India.
Waseem won silvers in Champions Trophy at Chennai 1996 and Lahore 1998 besides bronzes in 2002 and 2003 editions. He also appeared in CTs of 1997,1999 and 2001. Waseem also represented Pakistan in Sydney Olympics 2000, World Cup 1998, 2002 and Junior World Cup 1997. He also won silver in 5th Asia Cup at Kuala Lumpur 1999 and bronze in 13th Asian Games at Bangkok 1998.
Alongwith Sohail Abbas, Waseem was the only Pakistani to be included in the World XI which played against the Netherlands in Alexandria on 27 Oct 1999, as part of the FIH’s 75th Anniversary Celebrations. —Agencies
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