ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan head coach Shahnaz Sheikh is upbeat about the national side’s prospects of ending its Olympic participation drought ahead of the qualifying event for this year’s Paris Games.

A batch of the team’s contingent, including Shahnaz and assistant coach Shakeel Abbasi, departed for the Oman from here on Thursday after meeting Pakistan Hockey Federation president Tariq Hussain Bugti. The gulf state will host the event from Jan. 15 to 21.

Shahnaz emphasised the significance of Pakistan’s opening match against England and its potential role of setting the team’s momentum in the qualifiers. “We will make all-out efforts to top our group,” he said. “If we manage to win all three matches, we will qualify for the semi-final against New Zealand, giving us a good chance to move into the final after defeating the Kiwis.”

The former Olympic gold medalist added that Pakistan aim not only to qualify for this year’s Olympics but also to compete for victory in the showpiece.

Shahnaz said reaching Oman early before the matches was better for adaptation and praised the PHF president for securing funds from the government to ensure the team’s participation in the qualifying event.

“Without this support, it would have been impossible for the team to participate,” he remarked.

A total of eight teams are participating in the event, divided into two groups. Pakistan are placed with England, Malaysia, and China, while the second group comprises Germany, New Zealand, Canada, and Chile.

Despite boasting three Olympic gold medals, four World Cups, three Asia Cup titles, and eight Asian Games gold medals, along with several other honours, Pakistan unfortunately could not qualify for the last two editions of the Olympics.

AKHTAR DREADS ANOTHER FAILURE

Meanwhile, former Olym­pian and ex-president of the PHF Akhtar Rasool Chau­dhary called upon the Pakis­tan players to give their utmost in the qualifying round

In an exclusive interview with Dawn at Lahore’s National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday, Akhtar stressed the qualifiers were a “golden opportunity” to end the long Olympic drought.

“If Pakistan fails to qualify for the third time, I fear it can be a total disaster for Pakistan hockey,” he feared.

Akhtar urged the players to focus on their game and disregard the ongoing politics within the PHF.

As a former captain of Pakistan, part of the winning team in four World Cups (1971, 1975, 1978, and 1982), Akhtar stressed the importance of modern-day fitness standards in hockey.

“Players should give maximum time to meet international standards by enhancing their fitness levels,” he advised.

Concerned about Pakistan’s recent underperformance on the international stage, Akhtar attributed it to weak fitness levels and called for a collective effort to support the national team.

“The players need support from all of us, and we should all stand behind them as it is a national cause,” he clarified.

Additional reporting by Mohammad Yaqoob in Lahore

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2024