With an eye on LA 2028, Pakistan looks to win Hockey Junior Asia Cup

Qamar Ibrahim, the head coach of Pakistan junior hockey team is hopeful that his charges will make a solid start when they will face China in their opener of the Men's Hockey Junior Asia Cup in Muscat on today.

"Preparation is fine, although we did not get enough time for team training but, as far as fitness and skills are concerned, we are confident of a good start," Qamar, a former Olympian, told Nuktafrom Muscat, Oman.

"We had three practice sessions in Muscat and it has helped the boys to adjust to the local conditions," Qamar said.

In the ten-team event Pakistan have been placed in Group B with China, hosts Oman, Malaysia and Bangladesh.

The Group A carries defending champions India, South Korea, Japan, Thailand and Chinese Taipei.

The Junior Asia Cup is an important event for Pakistan as most of the players featuring in it are expected to lead their campaign for Olympic qualification.

Three-time Olympic champions Pakistan last qualified for the Games in 2012 in London. They are now eyeing a spot at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

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Meanwhile, the top two teams from each group will make it to the semi-finals which will be held on December 3 with the final to be conducted on December 4 and will be preceded by the bronze medal clash on the same day.

The event started on Tuesday and in Group A South Korea crushed Thailand 6-2 while Japan demolished Chinese Taipei 11-0 to make a superb start.

Similarly in Group B, Malaysia downed China 5-2 while Bangladesh defeated hosts Oman 3-1.

Pakistan underwent intensive training for a few weeks at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium in Karachi. The final squad was picked from the pool of 77 which had attended the trials which were also witnessed by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) chief Tariq Hussain Bugti and secretary Rana Mujahid.

This is the 10th edition of this event and the event in 2021 in Dhaka was cancelled due to covid-19. Pakistan have won the title three times in 1988, 1992 and 1996. Pakistan also remained runners-up four times when they finished second in 2004, 2012, 2015 and 2023 editions.

India have won it record four times in 2004, 2008, 2015 and 2023. Meanwhile, Malaysia won it in 2012 by defeating Pakistan 2-1 in the final at the former’s backyard in Malacca while South Korea have to their credit a single title in 2000 when they conquered India 3-2 in Kuala Lumpur.

Pakistan’s squad:

Goalkeepers: Faizan Janjua, Ali Raza; Defenders: Sufyan Khan (vice-captain), Aqeel Ahmad, Bilal Aslam, Nadeem Khan, Mohammad Zain, Waseem Sami; Midfielders: Abdul Hanan Shahid (captain), Mohammad Ammad, Zakariya Hayat; Forwards: Rana Waleed, Mughira, Hamza Fiaz, Basharat, Qayyum Dogar, Saifullah; Officials: Ajmal Khan Lodhi (manager), Qamar Ibrahim (head coach), Kamran Ashraf (coach), Yasir Islam (assistant coach), Abuzar Umrao (video analyst), Mohammad Mubashir (physiotherapist).