Asian games: Pakistan's hockey gold sparks off countrywide celebrations

Karachi: Pakistan's first major hockey title in 16-years and their first Asian Games gold medal after 20 years has sparked off countrywide celebrations with former Olympians, government officials and the public singing praises for the national team players. Pakistan's Asian Games final match against Malaysia was watched by thousands of people in offices, marketplaces and parks where giant screens were installed to telecast the match.

The 2-0 victory was greeted by loud cheers, dancing and distribution of sweets in many parts of the country. The federal sports minister, Aijaz Hussain Jahrani and the President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, Qasim Zia described the win as the life saver for hockey in the country. "We had said all along that our target is the Asian Games. After the World Cup and Commonwealth Games there was despondency but we had said we will win the Asian Games title," said Qasim Zia, a former Olympian. He also said that the Pakistani players deserved a lot of credit and praise for winning the final, while pointing out that hockey required such a major victory to boost its standing in Pakistan and also to reignite interest of the people in the national game. He said Pakistan had played well against the three other Asian giants -- India, South Korea and Malaysia and deserved to win. "We lost to India but were not humiliated and that I think was a stepping stone to this title," he said.

Jakhrani announced that the team would be given a hero's welcome when it return home on Saturday morning from China. "The players and officials who have brought this title for Pakistan will be rewarded by the government with cash awards and other facilities," he added. He said hockey needed a big title win and now Pakistan hockey is on the right path.

"The good thing is that now we have directly qualified for the 2012 London Olympics as well," he said. Former Olympians also praised the performance. "I think the foreign coach, Michel Van Den deserves credit for this massive victory because our hockey had been going downhill for years now," former captain Mansoor Ahmed said. Mansoor, who was a member of the national team that had last won the Asian Games gold medal in Beijing in 1990 and also in the team that won a last major title (1994 World Cup), said although the victory should be celebrated but the authorities should keep an eye on the Olympics as well. "We have shown that we are the best in Asia but we need to work much harder and improve a lot to also beat Australia and the European teams, who play a different level of hockey," he noted.

Former Olympian, Hasan Sardar said the PHF and management should now start grooming new players and begin to rebuild a process in Pakistan hockey. The final match that was closely followed on the streets and in tea shops on television screens saw people dancing and celebrating as soon as the final whistle was blown. "We rarely get to hear some good and positive news so it is great that our hockey team has brought us this joy and given us something to celebrate about," student Nausheen Khan said. As the congratulatory messages poured in from politicians, the President and Prime Minister, even the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said the hockey team had done the nation proud.