KARACHI, Nov 16 The Pakistan hockey team was like a pack of hungry lions when stepping on the field in their first Asian Games appearance in 1958, recalls Olympian Munir Dar.

“The team today cannot be compared to the spirited lot of yesteryear when we were like hungry lions out on the hunt in the ground. Our opponents' legs would be shaking with fear when we used to take the field,” said the right fullback while sharing some of his fond memories of the glorious hockey years with Dawn on the eve of Pakistan's first match (with Hong Kong in Pool 'B') in the 16th edition of the Asiad in Guangzhou, China.

The Asian Games has a special significance for the green shirts as they won their first ever gold medal in the third Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, in 1958. Pakistan at the time emerged victorious among the five contesting teams, namely Pakistan, India, Malaysia, South Korea and hosts Japan on points. This was also the first occasion that the team contested in the Asiad.

The national team took gold on a better goal average with Munir Dar being the top-scorer with eight goals to his name. “I created a world record at the event when I scored all of those eight goals through penalty corners. We beat South Korea 8-0 with me getting five of those eight goals for our team. India, on the other hand, beat them 2-1.

“Finally, after playing all the teams, both India and us had equal points with the difference lying in our scoring a total of 19 goals while conceding none and India 16 with one scored on them which gave us the edge on better goal average,” he said about that 1958 edition.

“It was always a tussle between Pakistan and India until 1986 when India ended up third to take bronze and Pakistan took silver by getting beaten in the final by a new winner — hosts South Korea who suddenly arrived on the scene,” recalled Munir. “Things haven't been the same ever since. In the 1994 edition in Hiroshima, it was Pakistan who settled for bronze while India took silver after losing to South Korea in the final.”

All in all, Pakistan has seven Asian Games gold medals — 1958 (Tokyo), 1962 (Jakarta), 1970 (Bangkok), 1974 (Tehran), 1978 (Bangkok), 1982 (New Delhi) and 1990 (Beijing).

This time it is back to China, where the green shirts won their last Asiad hockey event. There has been a 20-year drought of medals in the competition for the country which needs to win this year's edition in order to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

About the difference between the players of those days and today Munir said “Our captain Brig Hamidi used to tell us, 'First play for your country, then your own glory, and don't expect anything from anyone in return.'”

“Just imagine, we used to get three pounds a week when the pound was worth Rs13 but we didn't care as we only wanted to win for our country. The boys today play more for incentives than their motherland,” he lamented. “They say that hockey has changed today, that playing on the Astroturf is different from playing on grass. But Pakistan has won so many championships on artificial grass, too. So rules, equipment or different playing conditions have nothing to do with winning here. It's the fighting spirit and skills that really count,” concluded Munir, who has had the honour of featuring in two more Asiad editions — 1962, where Pakistan again clinched gold, and 1966 where the Asian giants had to settle for silver.

Placed in Pool 'B', Pakistan play their first match with Hong Kong on Tuesday (Nov 17), followed by Japan (Nov 18), India (Nov 20) and Bangladesh (Nov 21). Meanwhile, Pool 'A' comprises hosts China, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Oman. The semi-finals will be played on Nov 23 followed by the position matches and final on Nov 25.