PESHAWAR: Former national team goal-keeper and coach Abdur Rauf Khan on Wednesday predicted a Pakistan win at the 2012 London Olympics.
The country has only won three gold medals since it started competing in the Olympics at London in 1948, all of them in hockey. Their first came in Rome in 1960 when they became the first country to beat India after they had won six consecutive titles, a sequence that had started in Los Angeles in 1932.
The last time Pakistan won a medal was in 1992 when they finished third in Barcelona. Pakistan has won four World Cup titles as well.
Pakistan and India dominated men’s hockey until the early 1980s, winning four of the first five World Cups, but have become less prominent over time with the Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Australia and Spain gaining steady ground since the late 1980s. Other notable teams include Argentina, England and Korea.
“Hockey in Pakistan is showing a sign of revival thanks to government support,” Rauf told APP in an exclusive interview.
Rauf, who also coached PAF, said that progress was being made to restore the sport back to its former grandeur.
He also lauded the present management of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) headed by President Qasim Zia,a former Olympian and Secretary Asif Bajwa.
He also lauded Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President, Captain Tariq Hayat and Secretary Syed Zahir Shah for playing a significant role in promoting hockey in the province. According to Rauf, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a key unit of the PHF, and was instrumental in introducing new faces on the domestic circuit.
He also praised the government for providing financial assistance to the player and helping build a proper infrastruture for the game in the country.
Speaking on the issue of club-level hockey, Rauf contended that the new managment of the PHF conducted tought scrutiny by involving former Olympians, and as a result, bogus clubs were eliminated and better quality was ensured.
He also said a successful senior team will help in boosting the game at grassroots level because currently there was little to be inspired about.
Rauf, who also acted as assistant coach in 2005, 2007, said that winning major tournaments will put new life in the game and youth will be inspired to take it up just like cricket.
