** :k:Aug 26, 2010 **
YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES: SINGAPORE 2010
By Lee Min Kok
IT WAS Pakistan’s first hockey final at an Olympics for 26 years. But instead of gold, they had to settle for silver.
For goalkeeper Mazhar Abbas, hero of yesterday’s Youth Olympic Games boys’ hockey final against Australia, the 1-2 defeat was a bitter pill to swallow.
The 17-year-old had produced a magnificent save from a penalty stroke late in the first half to preserve his team's 1-0 lead - courtesy of forward Muhammad Umair, 15, in the 10th minute.
Alas, they let in a 49th-minute equaliser and were sunk by a penalty stroke by Luke Noblett three minutes from time. At the final whistle, the small but vocal group of Pakistani supporters at Sengkang Hockey Stadium fell quiet as several players sank to the turf in despair.
Said Mazhar: 'It was unfortunate I could not save the second penalty stroke. I tried my best to help the team, but luck was with Australia tonight.'
Added team official Abbas Asad: 'Our aim was to win the gold, but silver is still good news. Pakistan have 20 million people made homeless by the floods and they are desperate for any sort of good news - tonight, we have brought great cheer to them.'
If the Australians were hoping for a repeat of their comfortable 5-2 victory over the same opponents in an earlier match, they were sorely mistaken.
Time and again they were repelled by Pakistan's stoic defence, but eventually prevailed. Said match winner Luke: 'Pakistan played an awesome game, but we stuck together, worked hard for each other and got our just reward.'
Belgium beat Ghana 4-1 in an earlier match to clinch the bronze medal.
