PHF aims to make last efforts for entering 2020 Olympics as FIH excludes 3 times Olympics Gold medalist Pakistan from pre-qualifiers
The new secretary-general of Pakistan Hockey Federation, Asif Bajwa, said he would write to the FIH to reconsider its decision and make a spot for Pakistan in the Olympics 2020.
Three-times Olympics Gold medalist, Pakistan who also won as many as silver medals and two bronze in Olympics, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) did not include it in the pre-qualifying tournament scheduled for next month.
The newly appointed PHF secretary Asif Bajwa will soon contact the FIH president Narinder Batra and FIH competition committee regarding Pakistan’s participation in the Olympics 2020.
“The FIH has taken this decision since we did not send our team for the FIH Pro-Hockey League in February-April,” Asif Bajwa said.
PHF secretary hinted last week in Karachi during a press conference that the chances of Pakistan qualifying for the 2020 Olympics were thin. Since Pakistan failed to honour the commitment of participating in the FIH Pro League, they are not in a position to play international hockey and improve their ranking. They cannot participate in the qualifying round for the Olympics because it is the right of those countries which had not signed up for the FIH Pro League. Thus, due to poor planning, Pakistan are now out of both the Pro League and the pre-qualifying rounds.
The FIH has already fined PHF around 170,000 Euros for not sending the team to the Pro-Hockey League in Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, which, it says, damaged the sport’s growth globally.
Shortage of funds had led to the PHF not sending its team for the Olympics qualifying process.
A sport in which Pakistan was one of the best on the basis of winning several world, Olympic and Asian Games titles is today in dire straits and Bajwa said that there was just 7 lakh and 65,000 rupees in PHF’s account.
FIH would release the new world hockey ranking in September or October and it is expected that Pakistan would go further down because of not playing international hockey. Currently Pakistan are ranked 12th.
If a country failed to participate in the pre-qualifying rounds for Olympics, Pakistan could get an opportunity. But at the same time the source mentioned that any other team might also be given the opportunity.
Meanwhile, PHF officials are to appear in a meeting of the standing committee of National Assembly, which might grill them about the condition of the national game. PHF secretary is expected to appear in the meeting along with a few other officials. Pakistan are three-times Olympics gold medalist. They have also won as many as silver medals and two bronze.
