Olympics: Pakistan to train in England

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan hockey team will train in Staffordshire, England in July to prepare for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Pakistan Hockey Federation has selected Cannock Hockey Club to ‘fine tune’ their preparations, according to the BBC. The team played a three-match series with England on Cannock pitches in 2009. Pakistan has been drawn in the same group as Team GB for the preliminary round of the Olympic hockey tournament. “We are very proud to attract top ten nations to use the excellent sporting facilities,” said Staffordshire County Council cabinet member for culture, communities and customers Councillor Pat Corfield. “We extended a warm welcome to the Pakistani hockey team during their visit in 2009, and our hospitality has encouraged them to return.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2012.