Time was when Pakistan’s hockey team ruled the roost .Between 1948 and 1990 for almost half a century Pakistani hockey team made it to the victory stand in every international hockey tournament worth its salt. We used to win either gold or silver medal in every major international hockey tournament. In those good old days hockey tournaments used to be played only in the Asian or world Olympics held after every four years. Today many international hockey tournaments are being played across the globe.What a pity that Japan beat Pakistani hockey team in Azlan Shah hockey tournament the other day It was the same Japanese team which was more often than not used to be beaten by us by not less than atleast ten goals in the not too distant past in every match.
Pakistani team used to perform extremely well when international level hockey was played on grassy grounds. It got a setback when Astro turf was introduced by European countries much earlier than when we did. We were quite late in introducing it in Pakistan. Our performance at international level,therefore , plummeted because our hockey players were not used to play on astro turf which was laid in our grounds quite late. Though we had picked up now and for quite sometime now our hockey players have been playing on astro turf but still they are not playing to their full potential on astro turf.
One feels nostalgic remembering Pakistani hockey stalwarts like Hamidi, Atif, Munir Daar, Habib Ali kiddie, Anwar Ahmad Khan, Khurshid Alam, Zakauddin, Waheed Naseer Bunda, Matiullah, Samiullah, Hayat,Qazi Mohib, Hasan Sardar, Rashid junior, Manzoor junior Tanveer Daar,to mention a few, the likes of whom have not been seen by hockey fans in this country since long.
It is not understandable as to why efforts of the PHF at renaissance of hockey in the country have hitherto failed despite the fact that we have best former Olympians available with us who could guide and give tips to our young hockey players how to rise to the top of international hockey.
