Four Olympic-bound hockey teams are fine-tuning their preparations at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Malaysia.
A rejuvenated Pakistan hockey team, after demonstrating a reasonable game in the first three matches, is very much on track to lift the trophy for the first time since 2003, as they build up for an assault on the Olympic title. Pakistan placed themselves among favourites in this seven-team tournament with near flawless hockey.
It may be recalled here that the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup began in 1983 as a biennial contest, but became an annual event after 1998, following its growth and popularity.
Pakistan players looked fit and in top form to win the important event just ahead of the Olympic showdown. It looked that the combination of the experienced and youth has started showing its worth at last. Without doubt, one can see the prominence of senior players - Rehan Butt, Muhammad Saqlain and Shakeel Abbasi, but youngsters also did a wonderful job in keeping Pakistan unbeaten in the first three games. With eight years of experience behind him, Rehan always positioned himself at the right spot to fire in goals and likewise Saqlain played the real pivot game with a great sense of responsibility and refrained from over-indulgence in unnecessary ball retention.
Pakistan thrashed hosts Malaysia 3-2 and New Zealand 6-3 and played a 3-3 drawn game against Argentina, who had earlier demolished India 5-1, to remain unbeaten in the event till the filing of the report.
World number six Pakistan launched their 17th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey tournament campaign with a 3-2 victory against a slightly weaker but determined home team Malaysia at Azlan Shah Stadium.
Malaysia made a promising start when forward Kevinder Singh slammed home a loose ball in Pakistan's D in the first minute but Pakistan scored their equaliser through Muhammad Ateeq from a penalty corner in the 22nd minute.
A minute later, Malaysia went in front again through penalty corner specialist Amin Rahim. However, Pakistan levelled the score in the 28th minute through Rehan Butt who flicked home a cross and got the winner in the 60th when Muhammad Saqlain converted a penalty corner.
In second match against New Zealand, Pakistan's Rehan Butt struck four goals to help his team win by 6-3 in a highly entertaining match.
Pakistan had to come from behind as New Zealand drew first blood but failed to win the match. New Zealand skipper Phillip Burrows gave his team a lead in the sixth minute, noticing Pakistan's goalkeeper Salman Akbar was blocked by his own players and sending a shot sailing into the back of the net. But Pakistan did not let the goal dampen their spirits, producing an equaliser five minutes later, when Butt connected a cross from Muhammad Saqlain.
Before New Zealand could recover, Pakistan took a lead in the 14th minute, with Shakeel Abbasi scoring after receiving the ball from Butt.
Saqlain added another in 28 minutes and two minutes later, it was 4-1, following a brilliant strike from Butt.
The Black Sticks narrowed the gap with a penalty corner goal from Hayden Shaw in the 33rd minute. Shaw struck again from another penalty corner in 47 minutes, making it 4-3 and putting Pakistan under pressure.
However, Butt claimed his hat-trick following a goalmouth scramble before putting the result beyond doubt nine minutes later with his fourth goal.
Later, in their third match against Argentina, three-time champions Pakistan played a 3-3 draw. Pakistan took the lead through Muhammad Zubair in the 10th minute but Pedro Ibarra levelled for Argentina off a penalty corner 20 minutes later.
Despite retaking the lead in the 44th minute off a penalty corner by Muhammad Saqlain, the joy was short lived. Argentina stormed back to score six minutes later through Ignacio Juan Gilardi, with Ricardo Ignacio Bergner giving them the lead six minutes after but Waqas Akbar saved the day for Pakistan by scoring an equaliser in the 63rd minute.
Pakistan could have won the match but defender Muhammad Ateeq's flick from a penalty corner hit the cross-bar in the dying seconds.
On the same day, three-time champions India and hosts Malaysia notched up their maiden victories of the event. India bounced back from two defeats to beat Canada 3-1 and hosts Malaysia defeated New Zealand 3-1.
|
|
