Uphill task awaits national hockey team at FIH Olympic Qualifiers
Last updated on: 27 August,2019 05:08 pm
Pakistan hockey team's training camp for the Olympic qualifying matches is underway.
ISLAMABAD (APP) - An uphill task will be awaiting the new-look Pakistan hockey team as they prepare for the FIH Olympic Qualifiers, taking place either in October or November, this year.
The world number 17 Pakistan, who will be the lowest ranked outfit in the qualifiers will have to beat a top ranked side to win a place in the coveted sports event, Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) confirmed to APP.
"We ll be facing a daunting task as per FIH criteria we ll have to face the highest ranked team. It can be anyone, including from the sides such as Germany, Holland, Australia, New Zealand or India." "When you see at these teams our chances seem very little to qualify for the quadrennial extravaganza. But as FIH is also considering us we ll grab the opportunity and take our chances," he said.
Twelve teams will compete at the Tokyo Olympics scheduled to be held from July 24 to August 9, next year. Four continental champions Japan, Argentina, South Africa and Belgium have already received berths, while winner of the 2019 Oceania Cup, taking place in Australia between the hosts and New Zealand from September 5-8 will also earn an automatic entry in the event. As Japan has qualified twice for the event - once as host and once as Asian champions, there will be 14 teams competing at qualifiers, seven of whom will be determined for Olympics by emerging victorious.
These teams will be drawn into seven pairs with each pair playing a two-match, aggregate score series.
Pakistan hockey team s training camp for the Olympic qualifying matches is underway at the National Stadium Lahore. Bajwa said the federation was focusing on youngsters and trying to give them maximum exposure. "Around 90 per cent players called for the training camp for the qualifying round are fresh faces. The new selection committee has closely observed their performance and chosen the best of the best for training." "It is very encouraging that after a long time new talent has come forth. These boys are working really hard and if they fought with their full potential they will win.
"You can do anything if you are playing against a single country in an event. We have the chances and there can be a surprise pack for whoever will be our opponents at the qualifiers." According to Bajwa Pakistan s lowest ever global standing was due to technical grounds and not because of team s performance. "We are not such a poor side. We did not feature in the pro league. The teams which played that event improved their rankings. We stayed away from that, which affected our ranking badly."