August 23, 2008	Saturday	Sha'aban 20, 1429

BEIJING, Aug 22: A high-powered committee is being constituted to look into the reasons for Pakistan hockey team’s worst-ever performance in the history of Olympics, it was learnt here on Friday.

The three-time former Olympic champions which had finished at the sixth place under Rehan Butt at the Athens Olympics in 2004 went further two places down in the 12-team competition at Beijing.

The inquiry committee may comprise former Olympians Hasan Sardar, Shahbaz Ahmed Senior and a couple of other top hockey players besides some members of the Parliament.

Pakistan won only two matches — against low-rated Canada and South Africa — and lost against Great Britain, Australia, the Netherlands and finally to New Zealand.

The committee will interview all persons involved in the preparations of the team for the Olympics and go into the root causes of the debacle.

Separate committees will review Pakistan’s performance in athletics, swimming and shooting events.

The Pakistan Olympic Association is likely to face the wrath of Parliamentarians for sending a large number of officials with the contingent.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Hockey Federation President Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Secretary Asif Bajwa and Chief Selector Islahuddin Siddiqui left the city for Islamabad on Friday.

The departure of the officials was delayed for over four hours due to the late arrival of PIA flight from Islamabad.—APP