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Pakistan hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup were shattered by a lively Korean side, whose 2-1 win in the semi-final of the Asia Cup meant that the Greenshirts will not be part of hockey’s most prestigious event for the first time in the game’s history.**
Pakistan, the most successful team in hockey with four World Cup titles (1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994) needed to win the Asian event to claim the sole qualifying ticket from this tournament.
The loss means India have virtually qualified for the 2014 World Cup and Malaysia have confirmed their ticket to The Hauge, Holland, where the tournament will be played.
“This is indeed bad news for Pakistan hockey as we are out of the World Cup. Before coming here, we knew this was our final chance of making it to the World Cup … unfortunately we lost (to South Korea),” coach Tahir Zaman said while talking to Sports247.
“We have to live with the reality now and we will have to make a long-term plan for Pakistan hockey,” he added.
The Greenshirts, who had run over Japan, hosts Malaysia and Chinese Taipei in the run up to the semi-final, had only themselves to blame for their loss after squandering several opportunities in front of goal.
The first came as early as the third minute when they earned a penalty corner. Captain Muhammad Imran, however, could not make it count. It set both players in motion, though, and the Koreans were the first to strike in the 31st minute through Jong Hyun’s penalty corner.
Another missed penalty corner by Pakistan meant that Korea went into half-time 1-0 up and with a lot of confidence.
They started in the same vein in the second half and doubled their lead in the 40th minute when Lee Nam Yong tapped home a saved penalty corner.
Pakistan pulled a goal back six minutes later from their third penalty corner of the game, Imran finally coming good with his effort.
Pakistan found a burst of energy and attacked in waves, but once again missed the target. With time running out, they replaced their goalkeeper with a kicking back but to no avail.
“It is sad Pakistan couldn’t make it to the World Cup, but I would like to congratulate Malaysia and India who are virtually through to the competition,” said South Korea coach Shin Seok Kyo.
“Our aim now is to win create history by winning the Asia Cup the fourth time.”
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Ye kia ho gia
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
I had already predicted this long time ago here on GS! Sad day for Pakistan hockey!
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Call it* angoor khattey hein* but this really is artificial hockey. I still think Pakistan can compete with most teams on grass but on these artificial surfaces where the game is all about stamina, long passing and penalty corners we will always struggle to be consistent. Pure hockey skills like dribbling, dodging and short passing are really tested on grass.
As Southie once rightly said, hockey of today is unrecognisable from the game played in the 70s and 80s
Why not play every sport incl. Wimbledon on matted surface as well? Why not have matted pitches for cricket and soccer as well?
But here our performance wasn't that bad. We trounced Malaysia who have qualified. This wasn't a big defeat and South Korea is a dangerous side. This is not the first time that they have caused us heart break either. South Korea beat Pakistan ((who had just beaten the Netherlands 2-0 ((the eventual winners) in their last pool game)) by a solitary goal in the 2000 Olympic semi-final as well.
Ultimately it was our really poor performance in the 2012 London Olympics (where ironically we finished 7th by beating South Korea 3-2) that's denied us a place at the 2014 World Cup
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Hockey is Pakistan's national game but it does not have to be. In fact it has no basis to be a national sport because
1. It is not the most popular sport
2. Pak is not good at it
With prevailing power crisis, it is not possible to make a video or computer game national game of the country, however the new government should take some real steps to make cricket or at least it's T20 format as the national game of the country. Before that, there needs to be a complete transparency of the process and role of legislator as well as judicial branch of the government. I feel national assembly should be able to pass a bill declaring some form of cricket as new national sport. It is time to show the world how real nations take real steps in times of trouble.
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
in 1994, i'm sure the artificial turf was there...same problem with Indian team too...those days of Dhyan Chand and KD Babu are long gone.
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Pakistan's gradual decline started with the introduction of artificial pitches in 1976. Pakistan and India ruled the hockey world for at least 60 years on grass pitches. Pakistan and India finished 11 and 12 at the London World Cup in 1986.
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Pakistan's gradual decline started with the introduction of artificial pitches in 1976. Pakistan and India ruled the hockey world for at least 60 years on grass pitches. Pakistan and India finished 11 and 12 at the London World Cup in 1986.
Agreed but change is order of the day...the only thing constant is a change and how well we adapt to those changes makes us better and stronger..
If u remember during Jahangir khan era in squash the west tried everything to beat him..even changing the balls (from hard ones to softer ones) just before the competition but being well prepared he never let these things come in his way.
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Another embarrassing loss
?Pakistan no more than a club-level team? - DAWN.COM](http://dawn.com/news/1050836/pakistan-no-more-than-a-club-level-team)
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
and, Akhtar Rasool resigned but he is likely to become the President of PHF...ab kia fikr, jo honaa thaa so ho chukaa! aise hii log aate raheNge to world cup 2150 kii bhii koii ummeed nahiiN.
...he is the guy who insisted that you can skip rozas in order to win the world cup...well:
idhar sanam rooThaa udhar Khudaa rooThaa!
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Pakistan should abandon international hockey in order to preserve her precious record.
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Although Pakistan are out of the next world cup, some good news at last. Both India and Malaysia have qualified already for the world cup in Netherlands in 2014
Asian Champions Trophy: Pakistan outwit India to reach final – The Express Tribune
Rizwan Senior was the main performer for the defending champions who are unbeaten so far with four successive victories.
Captain Mohammad Imran, Rizwan Junior and Abdul Haseem Khan scored a goal each.
The greenshirts will take on Japan in their fifth and last league match on Friday. The final will be played on November 10.
The Imran-led side earlier defeated Oman (8-0), China (5-1) and Malaysia (1-0) in previous matches.
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Only a consolation! I do not think so it will last long. The real challenge is next year's CT - the only major competition left for Pakistan and then they have to qualify for the 2016 OG! The current domestic situation has not improved and there have not been any National Championship for this year.
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Atleast we are the Asian champions now 
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Never knew Japan was also in Asia too :/
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Further set back in Hockey - Pakistan failed to go through the quarter finals!
Re: HOCKEY: Pakistan fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time!!!
Juniors ka bhi wohi haal hai
Pakistan finish 9th in Junior Hockey World Cup by beating India 4-2 on penalties
England avoided the wooden spoon but only just
Canada finished last (16th) 