Hockey: Pakistan complete China clean sweep

Greenshirts clinch final match of Friendship Hockey Series 2-1.

LAHORE:

Pakistan defeated China 2-1 in the fourth and last game of the Friendship Hockey Series to complete a clean sweep at the National Hockey Stadium, Lahore. They earlier clinched the first match 3-0 before recording a 5-3 and 3-1 wins in the following two matches.

The winners’ trophy of the series - the first international hockey event in the country since 2004 - was, however, presented to China as a token of appreciation by
the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

Pakistan began the match at a high pace, creating chances and dominating most of the first-half. They pushed the visitors on the back foot and scored the opener in just the sixth minute through former captain Shakeel Abbasi. The lead was doubled in the 26th minute as Fareed Ahmad found an opening before China’s Dong Yang made it 2-1 before the half-time whistle.

After the resumption, both teams created opportunities but failed to find the net. Pakistan and China’s goal-keepers were tested but saved penalty corners as the score remained in favour of the hosts. As the match neared its end the crowd got behind Pakistan, with the full-time whistle sealing the visitors’ fate in the four-match series. The match was the last on the current pitch at the National Hockey Stadium before it is replaced with a blue Astroturf ahead of next year’s London Olympics.

China gave us a hard time: Imran

Pakistan captain Muhammad Imran praised China for putting up a good fight and hoped that the series would go a long way in bringing back international action to the country. “China gave us a hard time during the series,” said Imran. “Their game improved and the matches were contested at a high level.

“It feels great to see international hockey making a return to Pakistan and I hope that with the staging of this series, other teams will also decide to tour the country,” he added.

Meanwhile, China captain Song Yi appreciated the hospitality meted out by the Pakistan authorities and said his team learnt a lot during the tour.

“We travelled to three different cities and enjoyed a lot,” said Song. “Pakistan played good hockey and it helped us in improving our game as well.

The love we received from the people here will always be remembered.”

PHF presents trophy to China

As a token of appreciation, the PHF President Qasim Zia presented the winners’ trophy to the China captain. Speaking to reporters after the match, Zia said, “China lost the matches but they have won the hearts of many by touring Pakistan. This series was for the sake of friendship and China proved to the whole world that Pakistan is a safe place for sports.”

Olympian Tauqir Dar, who was also present at the venue, said that a huge crowd proved that people still loved the national sport. “These full stands prove that people love their national game,” said Dar. “This is just the start. The crowd present here has sent a message that they want more international action in the country.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2011.