Hockey and Wushu included in National Games

Hockey and Wushu have been included in the National Games being held from December 25 at Peshswar. This decision was taken at an emergent executive committee meeting of Pakistan Olympic Association which held under the chairmanship of its President, Lt Gen retd Syed Arif Hasan on Friday.

Giving details of the meeting at a news conference, Arif in the presence of Provincial Sports Minister Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Syed Aqil Shah, said that both Hockey and Wushu were included because they made the country proud at the Asian Games. Hockey won the gold medal after twenty years and Wushu a chinese style of martial art got a silver.

POA President said now 19 disciplines will be contested int Games for which the organisers have assured top security. Syed Aqil Shah gave a detailed briefing on the security measures to be taken during the games for the safety and security of players and officials. He said POA has constituted a three member evaluation committee to monitor daily progress on the security measures to be taken during the Games.Arif Hasan said Pakistan will take part in handball, kabaddi, bodybuilding and sailing events of the beach Games being held in Muscat from December 10.

Controversies Wont Affect us: Shahid Afridi

Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Afridi has said that the on-going controversies surrounding Pakistan cricket would not affect the morale of the players and the team would still be one of the favorites in the upcoming World Cup.

Pakistan cricket has been rocked by a series of controversies, the latest being the spot-fixing allegations against seven top players. Three players have been suspended by the ICC and four more are under the scanner. Afridi, veteran of more than 300 ODIs for Pakistan said that Pakistan will be amongst the top contenders of the teams in the World Cup. He also said that the team has a nice mix of batsmen and bowlers, which will surely put up a good show.However, he said that hosts India are one of the strongest contenders for the mega event, which kicks off on 19 February 2011 in India.He added that India, Pakistan along with Sri Lanka and Australia will be in the semi-finals of the tournament, being in the sub-continent after 15 years. However, he said that these are the countries which will have to bear extra pressure because of home conditions and the expectations of the fans.While praising India, he said Indian captain MS Dhoni has been an amazing captain and India is doing amazingly well under his leadership. He also spoke volumes in favour of Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, and said that his hunger for runs is growing day by day and teams need to have be extra cautious against him.Afridi also rued the fact they have lost the opportunity to play before the home fans in the prestigious tournament.

This is a huge loss for Pakistan Cricket. Foreign teams are not playing here and it has definitely affected us. We cannot do anything in this matter. Thank god, we have enough international exposure prior to World Cup.After playing against South Africa in UAE, Pakistan team is going to tour New Zealand from 26 December 26 to 5 February 5. They will play two Tests, three Twenty20s and six ODIs.Speaking about the motivation of his team, he said, Pakistan has suffered a lot. Flood, terrorism and the spot-fixing scandal in Cricket. Our Hockey team has given us a reason to smile after winning the Asiad gold and now we want to complete the success saga. InshaAllah we will win the World Cup for our countrymen.

Pak. hockey team honored by CM Punjab

Staff Report

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has given a reception, in honor to the gold medal winning Pakistan hockey team in Asian Games, in the Chief Minister House on Sunday.

CM Shahbaz welcomed the hockey players led by the captain Zeeshan Ashraf. All the players were wearing gold medals in the reception.

The president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Qasim Zia and others were also present in the reception. Trend Pk

Hockey not included in National Games

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Hockey is Pakistan’s national game but this time it has not been included in the National Games therefore the Sports Minister Eijaz Jakhrani has taken the notice and has asked the Pakistan Olympic Association to explain immediately.

The spokespersons of the Sports Minister said that Eijaz Jakhrani was not happy over the issue.

On the other hand, Asif Bajwa, the Secretary of Pakistan Hockey Federation, told Trend Pk that such attitude with the national game was pathetic.

The National Games are being started from 25 to 31 December in Peshawar. Trend Pk

National Hockey team loses to India by 7-4

Pakistan hockey team has once again lost a chance to win any big tournament by losing to India by a margin of three goals in the common wealth games. The score remained 7-4.
Its not astonishing that our national hockey team has lost 19th common wealth games but in fact the team has been losing all the major events for the last four years. Last time when the team won was when it won the Rabo Bank Trophy in Holland that included 8 teams. At that time Muhammad Saqlain played as the national skipper.
Since then the team has lost not only the Olympics and the Asian games but also suffered a humiliating defeat in the recently held Hockey world cup after a below standard performance and remained on the last pedestal in the 12-nation tournament.

National Hockey team loses to India by 7-4

Pakistan hockey team has once again lost a chance to win any big tournament by losing to India by a margin of three goals in the common wealth games. The score remained 7-4.
Its not astonishing that our national hockey team has lost 19th common wealth games but in fact the team has been losing all the major events for the last four years. Last time when the team won was when it won the Rabo Bank Trophy in Holland that included 8 teams. At that time Muhammad Saqlain played as the national skipper.
Since then the team has lost not only the Olympics and the Asian games but also suffered a humiliating defeat in the recently held Hockey world cup after a below standard performance and remained on the last pedestal in the 12-nation tournament.

CWG: Australia beat Pakistan 1-0

In the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, defending champion Australia defeated Pakistan in a tight hockey match by 1-0 on Saturday.
This is Pakistans first loss in the hockey match as it has won its earlier two games against Malaysia and Scotland. Pakistan will face India on Sunday for last pool match.
Pakistani wrestlers Afaaq Sarmad, Muhammad Umar and Muhammad Ali have also lost their matches.

CWG Day 2: Pakistan fails to clinch any medal

Pakistan failed to win a single medal on second day of Common Wealth Games in New Dehli, however, Hockey and Boxing Teams have won their initial matches. Tennis players including Aisamul Haq have also lost their matches.
Pakistan beat Scotland 3-0 in their first match of the field hockey contest in Commonwealth Games on Tuesday. Shakeel Abbasi opened the scoring for Pakistan in the 20th minute before ace forward Rehann Butt slammed a goal from the top of the circle 10 minutes from half-time at a near-empty Major Dhyan Chand stadium. Muhammad Imran made it 3-0 when he converted the first of the four penalty corners that Pakistan earned in the match in the 43rd minute.
Pakistani Boxer Haroon Shahid Iqbal Khan won his first international bout by registering a victory in Commonwealth Games.
Aisamul Haq and Aqeel Khan have also lost their match.Wrestling team has also lost their matches.

Hockey team for CWG to be announced tomorrow

Playing 11 for the hockey team is scheduled to be announced tomorrow whereas Pakistans first batch of players would leave for Delhi on September 29.
Preparations of the Hockey Team are continued in National Hockey Stadium Lahore whereas the team would be announced tomorrow. According to sources, Zeeshan Ashraf, who got unfit during the Holland tour, has regained fitness and would lead the side in the upcoming mega event in Delhi.
On the other hand President Pakistan Olympic Association Arif Hassan told Dunya News that Security Liaison Officer Ahmed Mukarram is already in Delhi who until now has given a satisfactory report. After receiving his expected reports tomorrow, 61-member batch of players would leave for Delhi on September 29, 2010.

Pak players fly to partake in Youth Olympics

LAHORE: A delegation of Pakistani players, comprising 27 members led by Brigadier Iqtedar, has flown for Singapore in order to take part in first Youth Olympics Games on early Tuesday, Geo News reported.

Pakistani players are due to take part in four different events including Hockey, Weight Lifting, Tai Commando and Swimming.

Moments before departure, Brigadier Iqtedar said at Lahore Airport that our players have been undergoing touch practice sessions for last six months, and our morale is high.

“We anticipate a good and competitive show from our young players”, he hoped.

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