Happy to play in Pakistan, says China hockey team
The first foreign hockey team to tour the country in seven years, the Chinese will this month play four matches against Pakistan.
International sporting events have been suspended in Pakistan since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in March 2009, killing eight people and wounding seven visiting team members.
"We are happy to be here and since Pakistan is our friendly country we always wanted to tour here and we have no security problems," Chinese team leader Li Gaochao told a press conference in Karachi.
China is fast becoming a top Asian hockey team since beating Pakistan in the semi final of the 2006 Asian games in Doha, Qatar.
They play their first match against Pakistan in Karachi on Wednesday, followed by another on Thursday, a third in Faisalabad on Saturday and the fourth in Lahore on Christmas Day.
"Pakistan and China have tremendous cooperation in almost all walks of life and our hockey team owe a great deal to Pakistan for helping us in training and coaching," said Li.
"We always respect Pakistan as a top hockey team in the world and hope to learn from this hockey series," he added.
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@geeko: HAHAHA I appreciate your sense of humor :)
Hope you guys have a good time during your stay here. All the best!
Pakistan should be thankful to the Chinese and should remember that a friend in need is a friend indeed.
The 'All weather friend' in all probabilities would play cricket in Pakistan in the near future.
Hats off to you Chinese ! this is what we call REAL friendship.