KARACHI: Pakistan’s football team, fresh from their 2-0 win over arch-rivals India on Wednesday, were drawn in a tough group for the upcoming Asian Games in South Korea after the draws for the 29-team men’s competition were made on Thursday.

The draws, made at Harbor Park Hotel in the Games’ host city of Incheon, saw Pakistan paired with North Korea and China in Group ‘F’ with the top two teams from each of the eight contesting groups advancing to the knockout stage.

Draws were also made in other team sports including rugby-sevens and kabaddi, where India and Pakistan will play in the same group in the men’s tournament.

Pakistan’s victory over India in Bangalore courtesy goals by captain Kaleemullah and Saddam Hussain helped them level the two-match series at 1-1 but it was their first win in five matches.

“We made a few positional changes in our defence and worked on our set-pieces and I’m very happy with the result against an Indian side that had more quality players on the pitch,” Pakistan head coach Mohammad Al Shamlan said after the match.

The quality of the sides they face in Incheon, however, would be even better.

North Korea qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup while China’s growing football market has seen them tipped as the emerging powerhouses in Asian football.

And Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Faisal Saleh Hayat welcomed the tough draw.

“It’s always beneficial for the players to play against the top teams in the region which will help them get greater experience,” Hayat told Dawn on Thursday.

“It presents us with another opportunity to test our mettle against the quality teams and hopefully the momentum gained by the [India] win will be carried to the Asian Games.

“The tour to India provided us with an ideal start to our preparation for the Games and the team would get better after our tour of Bahrain.”

Pakistan will play a match against Bahrain’s Olympic team and a few games against local clubs during their tour before returning home on Aug 31.

The football event mainly features U-23 players but three over-age players can also be included in the squad however, Pakistan are likely to take the same squad to the Games which toured India.

The 17th Asian Games will start from Sept 19 and continue till Oct 4. The football tournament will commence five days prior to the Games’ opening ceremony, from Sept 14.

RUGBY FIRST

Pakistan’s rugby team, meanwhile will take part for the first time at the Games at the rugby-sevens event.

According to the draw, Pakistan have been drawn in the repechage round alongside Lebanon and Saudi Arabia with the top two teams from that advancing to the main round which features three four-team pools.

Pakistan Rugby Union (PRU) secretary Arif Saeed is hopeful of a good showing in Incheon.“We do fancy our chances of advancing from the initial group,” Arif told Dawn on Thursday. “Since it is a first time for our rugby-sevens team, I believe it’s a remarkable chance for them to show their mettle.”

With rugby-sevens set to be included in the Olympic programme from 2016, Arif believes the Asian Games present Pakistan with a good chance to see where they stand in the game.

“Although qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics is extremely difficult, at least the Asian Games will provide us with an idea as to where we stand in Asia.”

Pakistan have better medal chances in Kabaddi — a sport in which they have won a medal since the sport became a regular fixture at the Games since 1990, winning two silvers and four bronze.

Bronze medallists in the last edition, Pakistan will face arch-rivals and defending champions India in the group stage after the neighbours were drawn in Group ‘A’ alongside Thailand and Bangladesh.

In volleyball, Pakistan have been drawn in Group ‘B’ alongside Japan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The draws for other team sports such as cricket, hockey, baseball and softball will be conducted by rankings.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2014