August 21, 2008	Thursday	Sha'aban 18, 1429

BEIJING, Aug 20: Pakistan hockey team is expected to face stiff challenge from New Zealand on Thursday as they prepare for their 7th-8th place match in the Beijing Olympic Hockey Tournament.

Even if the Pakistanis succeed in overcoming a dangerous looking Kiwi outfit, it will be their worst-ever showing in the 15 Olympic Games since 1948’s London Olympics.

This will be last outing of the Pakistan sports contingent at the Beijing Olympics which close on Sunday.

Wild-card athletes Abdul Rashid, Sadaf Siddiqui, swimmer Adil Baig, Kiran Khan and shooter Umer Siddique have already completed their outings at the Games without achieving anything notable for their country.

Pakistan, which is ranked seventh in the International Hockey Federation (IHF) rankings, may further slip down the order after their pathetic display here.

Three-time Olympic Champion Pakistan secured sixth spot at the Athens Games four years ago but are likely to finish even poorer this time around.

Several seniors players including Captain Zeeshan Ashraf, former captain Rehan Butt, Salman Akbar, Adnan Maqsood and Shakeel Abbasi may be playing their last match in Olympics on Thursday.

In the race for the semifinals on Thursday, the Netherlands will take on Germany while defending champions Australia will be up against Spain.

For fifth and sixth spot Great Britain will clash with Korea while Canada will take on Belgium for the 9th-10th spot. South Africa will play host China for the 11th-12th place.—APP