Pakistan

Shattered dreams: Pakistan get Irish whipped out of 2016 Rio Olympics

Alan Sothern converted a penalty corner in the 46th minute of the match to blow Pakistan out of contention

Sports Desk July 03, 2015

Pakistani players after the match. PHOTO: FIH

KARACHI: Three-time Olympic gold medallist Pakistan team, one of the pioneers of field hockey, have failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics for the first time in the history of the game as they lost the crossover match 1-0 for 5th-6th position against a 15th ranked Irish team at the FIH Hockey World League Semi-finals being played at Antwerp, Belgium on Friday.

Pakistan enjoyed 58% possession in the first quarter and won a penalty corner in the 10^th minute which was defended well by Irish Kyle Good.

Pakistan vice-captain Shafqat Rasool missed an important chance in the second quarter as he sent an upright reverse shot wide in the 17th minute of the game.

Ireland take the lead as Sothern puts a hard flick down the middle IRL 1-0 PAK #HWL2015 #RoadtoRio http://t.co/VOXuK85Kdv
— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) July 3, 2015

Pakistan maintained high level of possession but Irish defenders and goalkeeper handled the defence perfectly to deny the men in green on another occasion when Muhammad Rizwan senior struck a shot on goal from close range but David Harte, the Irish goalkeeper made a brilliant save to end the half on equal terms, nil-nil.

Irish Dowds made an important move for Ireland in the 33^rd minute but hits from top of the Pakistani goalkeeper.

Read: Olympic hopes a distant dream for Pakistan now

In the 36th minute Azfar Yaqoob got a green card for a foul on Jackson and Ireland capitalised on the 10-man Pakistan team to take the all-important lead when Alan Sothern converted a penalty corner in the 46^th minute of the match.

Ireland then resorted to defensive tactics and Pakistan were struck out of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Recently, Pakistan did not qualify for the field hockey World Cup as well.

COMMENTS (18)

Brar | 8 years ago | Reply When two teams play only one team wins so never loose heart work hard you will also win, though it hurts to see the Green shirts in depression.

Bashir | 8 years ago | Reply Get rid off fat belly management . This over weight coach has crushed the team under his weight. But who will do it. He is very near to our PM.

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pappu | 8 years ago | Reply Well, no free tickets to Rio for hockey walas on tax payers money. Good for them.

bikash chand katoch | 8 years ago | Reply a country can never be sucessful in sports if it focus on only 2-3 sports.pakistan was good in squash,hockey,cricket but now not a single player or team seem to be qualifying for olympics.education,health,sports all are related.people of pakistan should start embracing every sport like tennis,athletics,badminton,vollyball,basketball,swimming,football.may be in10-15 years it will start emerging as good sports country .focus should be on carefully spending government and pvt sponser money on players and not on officials.

Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply This was expected. Nowadays, few youngsters play hockey and those too have almost no facilities and incentives. We are the people who want to land on moon without a rocket and without a space program.

Ultron | 8 years ago | Reply Until and unless Pakistan changes its attitude towards India regarding hatred and obsessions. Nothing would go well for their country which includes sports.Hope I will see a peaceful and friendly Pakistan equally well developed like us(India) , atleast in my lifetime.

Fayyaz Ather | 8 years ago | Reply Our decline in all sports start from 2000. Yes management needs improvement at every time, but the main problem is our "fight against terrorism". Sports activities were shut down. Every second fear stands in front of us. Society not feeling healthy. We are hope full, when this era will end we will stand again strongly. AND ITS COMING NEARLY.

SB | 8 years ago | Reply I recall the ugly gestures this team made towards Indian supporters when they won a match in India. Anybody, who has seen that behavior, would not be surprised by this performance!

rak | 8 years ago | Reply @Vicktor exactly...i thought pakistan had qualified...poor editing...anyways..hockey in india and pakistan has suffered a lot due to negligence.

Giridhar | 8 years ago | Reply @Feroz: Kabbadi does not exist in Olympics. India and Pakistan should focus on Olympic sports rather than cricket and kabbadi. Just because you're weak in something doesn't mean you should give it up

Amit | 8 years ago | Reply As a Indian I feel sad on falling standard of our national support. Pakistan undoubtedly was best team in world. I hope it rose back its glory.

sridhar | 8 years ago | Reply In India, Tennis, Badminton are coming up fast. Cricket is highly commercialzed. Same happening with other sports including now Soccer (or Football in India). Hockey is no more popular in India. Unless it is made financially viable for the players, few will be interested.

Vicktor D'Souza | 8 years ago | Reply The title of this piece can be misleading. One could interpret it the other way around..Irish get whipped by Pakistan !

Naseh | 8 years ago | Reply Our coach should work more on his tummy and resign. Respect for all the players, they played without any support from government. Let us aim for 2020 and work hard on youngster. Our physical fitness level needs to improve.

Afkar Ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan have failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics for the first time in the history of the game. on the other hand, Pakistan cricket team is on the verge of not qualifying for the Champions Trophy. what a great management running both the sports. Alas...!! only idiots are running the affairs of our country and our sports.

jaipal dahiya | 8 years ago | Reply Cricket has killed hockey in india and Pakistan.

Hammad | 8 years ago | Reply Again the problem would be traced down to lack of funds for poor performance. When money budgeted for sports, health, education is used for building metro buses then expect losses in sports, high rates of illiteracy, death due to poor health facilities in hospitals. Not surprised at all on this loss.

Feroz | 8 years ago | Reply There is enough time to train for the 2020 Olympics. Pakistan and India must focus on Kabaddi, where chances of winning are high.

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