IT is painful to know Pakistan hockey team failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics after losing the crucial match against Ireland in Hockey World League in Antwerp.

It was indeed the darkest day for Pakistan hockey.

The players are not responsible for the defeat as the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has never bothered to focus on the national team. The second culprit to blame for this fiasco is the government, which is more interested in cricket than hockey.

I request the PHF and the government to support hockey and the players instead of focussing on cricket.

Shakeel Phullan

Turbat

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2015

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