PAK have failed to qualify for the Olympics for the 1st time in their hockey history

[Devil Soul]

Shattered dreams: Pakistan get Irish whipped out of 2016 Rio Olympics
By Sports Desk
Published: July 3, 2015

Pakistani players after the match. PHOTO: FIH

KARACHI: Three-time Olympic gold medallist Pakistan team, one of the pioneers of field hockey, have failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics for the first time in the history of the game as they lost the crossover match 1-0 for 5th-6th position against a 15th ranked Irish team at the FIH Hockey World League Semi-finals being played at Antwerp, Belgium on Friday.

Pakistan enjoyed 58% possession in the first quarter and won a penalty corner in the 10th minute which was defended well by Irish Kyle Good.

Pakistan vice-captain Shafqat Rasool missed an important chance in the second quarter as he sent an upright reverse shot wide in the 17th minute of the game.



Pakistan maintained high level of possession but Irish defenders and goalkeeper handled the defence perfectly to deny the men in green on another occasion when Muhammad Rizwan senior struck a shot on goal from close range but David Harte, the Irish goalkeeper made a brilliant save to end the half on equal terms, nil-nil.

Irish Dowds made an important move for Ireland in the 33rd minute but hits from top of the Pakistani goalkeeper.

Read: Olympic hopes a distant dream for Pakistan now

In the 36th minute Azfar Yaqoob got a green card for a foul on Jackson and Ireland capitalised on the 10-man Pakistan team to take the all-important lead when Alan Sothern converted a penalty corner in the 46thminute of the match.

Ireland then resorted to defensive tactics and Pakistan were struck out of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Recently, Pakistan did not qualify for the field hockey World Cup as well

 

[Devil Soul]

Historic low as Pakistan fail to qualify for Olympics
SPORTS DESK — UPDATED 7 minutes ago

Pakistan needed to finish at least in the 5th spot at the Hockey World League to have any hopes of getting a ticket to next year's Rio Olympics. - Photo courtesy FIH
Pakistan have failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in their illustrious hockey history after losing to Ireland 1-0 in the 5-8 position classification match of the Hockey World League in Antwerp, Belgium on Friday.

The result comes as another low for Greenshirts who for the first time in the game's history also failed to qualify for the World Cup last year.

Pakistan needed to finish at least in the 5th spot at the Hockey World League to have any hopes of getting a ticket to next year's Rio Olympics. But they were once again guilty of not capitalising on opportunities in front of goal.

Mohammad Dilber had the first chance of putting his team in front but his attempt in the first quarter only found the keeper.

Pakistan upped the ante in the second quarter but once again, Umar Bhutta's effort was blocked by a resolute Irish goalie.

Ireland then scored in the 46th minute to condemn Pakistan to another historic low.

"This is a dark day for Pakistan," said Rashid Mehmood as he left the pitch following Pakistan's defeat.

"We played well and created chances, but we just couldn't score," added Mehmood.

The development will come as a big blow for hockey in Pakistan, which for years now has been struggling to keep afloat amid a shortage of funds and poor management.

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

Cricket and Field hockey consumes nearly all our sports budget. We should spend on other sports too especially Football. Field hockey has declined so has Cricket due to betting.

 

[senses]

And we are also on edge of being eliminated from ICC Champions Trophy race if we don't beat sri-lanka.

 

[Mughal-Prince]

What is the problem I say ???
It seems some kind of qabza group on both sports so I say kill these sports in Pakistan both of them and invest in football and other individual player games.

 

[Matrixx]

Cricket and Field hockey consumes nearly all our sports budget. We should spend on other sports too especially Football. Field hockey has declined so has Cricket due to betting.

Pakistan Hockey dont have any money and now it will be even bad situation for them

 

[ito]

Cricket has literally killed all other sports in the Subcontinent.

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

Cricket and Field Hockey decline is good for increasing popularity of Football. In Football you need only one ball to two team with total 22 players. While in Hockey you need 22 hockey stick and a ball. Cricket is even more expensive. Its cheaper to play Football and its also world sport.

 

[Viny]

There is always ups and downs in sports.
There is nothing to worry a champ always has potential to become champ again if all the energy is focused in right direction.

Dont loose hope, give the support to team to build the morale and if they are true to there game, they will surely rise back to game

 

[Imran Khan]

its ok still we have to respect them and support them

 

[[Bregs]]

Its sad moment for sub continent style of hockey, new rules, formats and grounds have killed our style of traditional hockey

 

[OrionHunter]

Pakistan lost 1-0 against a 15th ranked Irish team??



Man, this sucks! Asian teams are getting beaten at their own game by the great whites! Jeeez!

 

[saadee]

Historic low as Pakistan fail to qualify for Olympics
SPORTS DESK — UPDATED 7 minutes ago

Pakistan needed to finish at least in the 5th spot at the Hockey World League to have any hopes of getting a ticket to next year's Rio Olympics. - Photo courtesy FIH
Pakistan have failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in their illustrious hockey history after losing to Ireland 1-0 in the 5-8 position classification match of the Hockey World League in Antwerp, Belgium on Friday.

The result comes as another low for Greenshirts who for the first time in the game's history also failed to qualify for the World Cup last year.

Pakistan needed to finish at least in the 5th spot at the Hockey World League to have any hopes of getting a ticket to next year's Rio Olympics. But they were once again guilty of not capitalising on opportunities in front of goal.

Mohammad Dilber had the first chance of putting his team in front but his attempt in the first quarter only found the keeper.

Pakistan upped the ante in the second quarter but once again, Umar Bhutta's effort was blocked by a resolute Irish goalie.

Ireland then scored in the 46th minute to condemn Pakistan to another historic low.

"This is a dark day for Pakistan," said Rashid Mehmood as he left the pitch following Pakistan's defeat.

"We played well and created chances, but we just couldn't score," added Mehmood.

The development will come as a big blow for hockey in Pakistan, which for years now has been struggling to keep afloat amid a shortage of funds and poor management.

Good. Now it's. Cricket team's time to get kicked out from Champion trophy.

 

[Jackdaws]

Cricket has literally killed all other sports in the Subcontinent.

This is not true. Field Hockey is not even on the radar of the average Aussie, Dutch or German citizen. It has always been a niche sport. It was only big in parts of India. You can't blame cricket for killing other sports - most other sports have a niche presence. India is still one of the top tennis countries in Asia.

 

[Asfandyar.Khan]

Its all pti fault