Pakistan hockey team to miss Commonwealth Games over politics
Pakistan's national hockey squad will not compete in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be held in Scotland, over political and athletic rivalries between two parallel Olympic associations.
"This is one of the most unfortunate events to have taken place in Pakistan's sports history," Lt. General Arif Hassan, head of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), told Anadolu Agency.
"And it is the sole fault of the government and hockey officials," he asserted.
Pakistan, four-time hockey world champions and three-time Olympic champions, will not play this year's Commonwealth Games – not because of their performance but because of a row between two rival Olympic associations currently operating in Pakistan.
Hassan's POA is affiliated with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). But the government only recognizes another Olympic association, one led by retired Major General Akram Sahi.
The IOC had asked the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to send a letter of interest regarding the national team's participation in the Commonwealth Games through the POA.
The government, for its part, barred the PHF from doing this, insisting that the federation send the letter via its recognized Olympic association.
The IOC refused to recognize or accept the letter, however, ultimately leaving Pakistan out of the scheduled games.
"The IOC had given two extensions to the PHF to send the letter… to confirm its place in the Commonwealth Games, but the latter failed to do so," said Hassan.
"I tried my level best to convince the hockey officials not to waste this opportunity that could boost our players' deteriorating morale," he added. "But they simply followed the government's directions."
Pakistan won the world hockey championship in 1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994.
The country also won gold medals for hockey in the 1960, 1968 and 1984 Olympics.
- Politicizing sports
General Hassan, who served as Corps Commander of Rawalpindi from 2003 to 2005 before his retirement, accused the government of "meddling" in sports affairs.
"The IOC has already put India under suspension for the same thing," he said. "I am afraid the Pakistani government is following the same path."
Islahuddin Khan, former captain of the Pakistan hockey team that won the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, sees the absence of the national squad from the Commonwealth Games as a major blow to the already tottering state of the national sport.
"This is the worst-ever time for Pakistani hockey," he told AA. "It's beyond my imagination that… the Pakistani hockey team will not be part of the two mega-events."
Pakistan did not qualify for the 2014 World Championship after failing to win the Asian Cup Hockey Championship, which had been a must for the Green Shirts to confirm their place in the forthcoming competition.
"The Commonwealth Games would have been a golden opportunity for Pakistan to compensate for its absence from the World Cup," said Islahuddin.
Karachi-based sports reporter Atiq-ur-Rehman blames the glorification of other sports, especially cricket, for hockey's gradual deterioration in Pakistan.
"There has been less appetite for hockey among youngsters for the last two decades for various reasons," he told AA. "No money, no fame and no recognition."
The sports reporter cited massive media coverage and sponsorship of cricket players.
"Too much money is driving youngsters towards cricket," he said. "A normal cricket player on the national team – or even a departmental team – is paid 100 times better than a hockey player."
"Similarly, cricket players are considered for better jobs and positions in private and state-owned organizations, whereas many departments have disbanded their hockey teams," added Atiq.
By Aamir Latif – Anadolu Agency
englishnews@aa.com.tr
