Feature: Women’s hockey at a standstill
Event is only high-profile tournament which girls are left with, after their snub from National Games last year.
The 26th National Women Hockey Championship marked the beginning of Pakistan females vying for action, but unfortunately it may have marked the end for them this year too.
The event is the only high-profile tournament which the girls are left with, after their snub from the National Games last year. The team now rests its hopes on the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Women’s Wing President Tanzeela Amir Cheema.
Cheema, who was elected two years ago, promises a calendar filled of national tournaments, which the girls have been severely deprived of. The year 2011 will see the girls taking on the Fatima Jinnah Trophy and Benazir Bhutto tournament in March, and two international matches, one of them including a friendly against Holland.
But as far as international matches are concerned, the current sentiment in the women’s hockey team is not of a positive one. The team travelled to Malaysia in 2006 in hope of qualifying for the Asian Games, and despite having passed the test, they were not allowed to take part in the tournament.
“We weren’t given any reasons,” said Wapda captain Azra Nasir. “They say things like we have budget problems etc, but I’ve been here for a while and you understand how it is eventually.”
The team faced the same situation last year, when the women’s team was meant to go to Bangkok for the Asian Games qualifying camp. They had their visas, but again, the officials spoiled their plan. “They called us and told us we couldn’t go, and our flight was a few hours later,” said Nasir.
Wapda’s four-time captain Nasir was the star performer, leading her team to victory each time during her reign at the National Women’s Hockey Championship. She scored 28 goals — the highest in the event.
The 26-year-old has been playing hockey since 2000, and 11 years later she only has two international tournaments to boast of. “I’ve only had two opportunities to tour —one in 2000 to Singapore, and one to Malaysia to qualify for the Asian Games, we didn’t even end up going so that’s that.”
“We take camps which last two months and then the day we have to go, they tell us we can’t. So international tournaments are a far cry.”
Diversification
At the end of the day the current answer to the team’s woes is diversification into other sports. A decade into the sport, Nasir spells out how to survive when officials stamp out their opportunities time and time again.
The 26-year-old divides her time between cricket, football and hockey. She has captained a side in a Faisalabad cricket tournament, and can even be seen playing football.
“I was first a cricket player and was never interested in hockey until college. I pursued hockey when there was no scope in cricket.
“But now I can say that the women’s cricket team is definitely better than us. They actually went to the Asian Games and participated. International tournaments are all what essentially matter.”
Nasir’s aim is to qualify for the Asian Games which a decade as a hockey player has not given her. With just a few years left before she hangs up her boots, all that is left is just wishful thinking.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2011.
The event is the only high-profile tournament which the girls are left with, after their snub from the National Games last year. The team now rests its hopes on the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Women’s Wing President Tanzeela Amir Cheema.
Cheema, who was elected two years ago, promises a calendar filled of national tournaments, which the girls have been severely deprived of. The year 2011 will see the girls taking on the Fatima Jinnah Trophy and Benazir Bhutto tournament in March, and two international matches, one of them including a friendly against Holland.
But as far as international matches are concerned, the current sentiment in the women’s hockey team is not of a positive one. The team travelled to Malaysia in 2006 in hope of qualifying for the Asian Games, and despite having passed the test, they were not allowed to take part in the tournament.
“We weren’t given any reasons,” said Wapda captain Azra Nasir. “They say things like we have budget problems etc, but I’ve been here for a while and you understand how it is eventually.”
The team faced the same situation last year, when the women’s team was meant to go to Bangkok for the Asian Games qualifying camp. They had their visas, but again, the officials spoiled their plan. “They called us and told us we couldn’t go, and our flight was a few hours later,” said Nasir.
Wapda’s four-time captain Nasir was the star performer, leading her team to victory each time during her reign at the National Women’s Hockey Championship. She scored 28 goals — the highest in the event.
The 26-year-old has been playing hockey since 2000, and 11 years later she only has two international tournaments to boast of. “I’ve only had two opportunities to tour —one in 2000 to Singapore, and one to Malaysia to qualify for the Asian Games, we didn’t even end up going so that’s that.”
“We take camps which last two months and then the day we have to go, they tell us we can’t. So international tournaments are a far cry.”
Diversification
At the end of the day the current answer to the team’s woes is diversification into other sports. A decade into the sport, Nasir spells out how to survive when officials stamp out their opportunities time and time again.
The 26-year-old divides her time between cricket, football and hockey. She has captained a side in a Faisalabad cricket tournament, and can even be seen playing football.
“I was first a cricket player and was never interested in hockey until college. I pursued hockey when there was no scope in cricket.
“But now I can say that the women’s cricket team is definitely better than us. They actually went to the Asian Games and participated. International tournaments are all what essentially matter.”
Nasir’s aim is to qualify for the Asian Games which a decade as a hockey player has not given her. With just a few years left before she hangs up her boots, all that is left is just wishful thinking.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2011.