KUANTAN Pakistans new rising star Haseem Khan said on Monday that he wanted to achieve bigger goals and objectives for the country.
His two goals in the Group B match against India helped Pakistan edge out their arch rivals and reach the semi-final of the Asia Cup.
'Victory against India may be a step forward. But it'll be long before Pakistan hockey is back on the track,' he told APP Correspondent Ehsan Qureshi in an interview at Kuantan Hockey Stadium before his teams training session here.
'After playing a 1-1 draw against China we were under pressure against India. But the coach told us to play normally without taking any pressure,' he commented.
The 20-year-old Haseem, a third year electronics student of Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, scored two goals in the 33rd and 36th minutes to lead Pakistan's to 3-2 win.
'It was a narrow angle and I made an effort with a reverse-sweep and was rewarded,' Haseem said of his 36th minute stunner.
'This was my small contribution. I wanted to play my part in teams success in winning the Asia Cup,' he said.
Pakistan had last won the Asia Cup in 1989 in New Delhi and are the only team with three Asian trophies.
The nephew of Ex-Olympian Hanif Khan, Haseem said his uncle supported him greatly and he wanted to emulate him.
Haseem said after the death of his father he owed a lot to the support of Hanif Khan, Pakistan assistant coach Kamran Ashraf and former Olympian Kashif Jawwad.
I picked up and learnt a lot of things from Kamran and Kashif and it has helped in building my career. My dream is that Pakistan hockey achieves its past glories like it was in the eighties and nineties, he recalled.
He said the match against India was only his fifth international after having played for the junior team.
A prolific scorer in the domestic circuit, Haseem also credited his club, the NBP Sports Department, in helping him in build his career.
