Cash-strapped Pakistan to send national team for FIH Nations Cup hockey
The cash-strapped
Pakistan Hockey Federation
has managed to send its national team for the
FIH Nations Cup
being held in
Kuala Lumpur
, Malaysia from June 15-21.
PHF secretary Rana Mujahid said that the federation president, Mir Tariq Bugti had got grants from the government, sponsorships and even individual donations to ensure the senior team plays in all its international events in the calendar year.
"The PHF is going through a financial crunch but we are managing somehow because unless our players don't compete regularly they will never move forward," the Olympian said.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
This 'Invisible Workout' Is Quietly Replacing Diets in the UK
dailybuzzreport
Undo
Pakistan is currently ranked 15th in the FIH rankings, an improvement from the 20th position in 2022.
The Green Shirts didn't qualify for the last World Cup and last feattured in the 2012 London Olympics.
Live Events
Mujahid said the current federation was trying its best with its limited resources to first and foremost ensure players had no complaints about financial hardships.
They were facilitated properly and given the best training and preparation before each event.
"I have been a player myself and I know when the federation takes good care of a player he focuses completely on his game," he said.
In a first, the PHF has allowed head coach Tahir Zaman to select the 20-member squad himself without the help of any selectors.
Shakeel Imad Butt has been retained as captain for the eight-nation competition, which also features hosts Malaysia, France, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, South Africa and Wales.
Rana Waheed was named as vice-captain for the campaign.
The squad includes goalkeepers Muneer-ur-Reh-man and Abdullah Ishtiaq, alongside field players Mohammad Abdullah, Mohammad Sufyan Khan, Abdul Manan, Hamad Anjum, Arshad Liaquat, Mo-een Shakeel, Zakrya Hayat, Ghazanfar Ali, Salman Razaq, Junaid Manzoor, Afraz Khan, Abd-ul Rehman and Ahmed Nadeem.
Mohib-ullah and Rana Waleed will travel as reserves.
"The selected team is a balanced one and we are hopeful that this team will produce desired results," Tahir said.
"I picked the players based on their camp and recent performances in international events," he added.
He said the FIH Nations Cup was a major event for Pakistan as a win would mean a promotion to the FIH Pro League next year and also prepare the players to qualify for next year's World Cup from other events like the Asia Cup and qualifying tournament.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Vaishnavi's dominance, Harshvardhan and Dinesh rally light up day 1 for Maharashtra
1 2 3 4 Nagpur: Vaishnavi Torve, Dinesh Malpote, and Harshvardhan Mali registered victories in contrasting fashion to start Maharashtra's campaign in the chief minister's cup U-15 national wrestling championship on a high note. While Vaishnavi, a small-town girl from Loni Deulkar in Indapur Taluka of Pune district, delivered a dominant display in the first final of the day, played in front of CM Devendra Fadnavis, Dinesh and Harshvardhan rallied from two points down to surprise the experienced grapplers from Haryana in close contests to emerge as champions. In the 46kg women's freestyle final, Vaishnavi thrashed Anshika Yadav of Delhi 10-0 to open Maharashtra's gold medal account. In a dominant display, Vaishnavi took just 1 minute and 45 seconds to clinch the yellow metal. Trained by Prakash Kodekar at a small town near Pandharpur, Vaishnavi won the national gold medal on debut. "I got my grip in the initial stage, and that was enough for me to win the bout. Though this is my first national medal, I am optimistic about doing well in the Asian Championship and look forward to making my parents and country proud," Vaishnavi told TOI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo Dinesh Malpote, a farmer's son from Mulashi Taluka of Pune, followed Vaishnavi's feat with a gold medal in the 57kg freestyle boys' final. In a thrilling summit clash, Dinesh defeated Jatin Singh of Haryana 3-2. Trained under Olympian Ravinder Khatri at the Hindkesari Amol Buchade Academy in Pune, Dinesh aims to become one of India's Olympic medallists. "My coach is working very rigorously with me, and our aim is to first win a medal in the Asian Championship. Thereafter, my target is to become one of the youngest medallists in the 2028 LA Olympics," Dinesh told TOI. Later, Harshvardhan Mali added the third gold medal for Maharashtra when he outclassed Haryana's Sawan Singh 7-5 to emerge as champion in the 48kg freestyle boys' final. In an exciting 52kg boys' final, Maharashtra's Shrikant Sawant suffered a heartbreaking defeat when he was tied with Prathamesh Patil from Services 5-5. With Prathamesh scoring the last point, he was declared the winner. Overall, Maharashtra finished the opening day with three gold medals, three silver, and five bronze medals. Haryana wrestlers, however, took the opening day's honours by winning as many as five gold medals.
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Look beyond Maharashtra Kesari, aim for Olympic medals: CM Fadnavis to state wrestlers
1 2 3 4 Nagpur: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis wanted the Maharashtra Kesari wrestlers to aim higher and bring the glory of legendary Khashaba Jadhav back to the state by winning a medal in the next Olympic Games. Fadnavis was speaking during the inauguration of the Chief Minister's Cup U-15 National Wrestling Championship, which began at the indoor stadium of Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur on Saturday. On a query raised by Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Sanjay Kumar Singh regarding the performance of senior Maharashtra grapplers compared to their junior counterparts, Fadnavis said that state wrestlers get satisfied after becoming Maharashtra Kesari. Fadnavis wanted the state wrestlers to change that mindset and remained hopeful that in the next Olympic Games, Maharashtra grapplers will win medals for the country. He said that the state govt is committed to bringing international coaches for excellent training and updating necessary infrastructure to fully support the wrestlers. Fadnavis said, "Efforts will be made to involve institutions, foundations, and the corporate sector to make wrestling more professional and glamorous in Maharashtra. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Like kabaddi, wrestling is played across all the small regions of Maharashtra, and it is time to show the world our true value." Speaking further, he emphasised the govt's focus on wrestling competitions and highlighted the importance of sports and participation. Fadnavis said Maharashtra's young sportspersons were performing well at the National Games and Khelo India. As far as wrestling is concerned, the junior wrestlers are doing well. But the senior wrestlers are not getting recognition at the international level. Fadnavis wanted the state wrestling association to look into the matter and take all the necessary help from the Maharashtra govt. In his introductory remark, President of the Organising Committee and MLC Sandip Joshi said, "Looking at the success of Nagpur's first national championship, the city is all set and ready to host international wrestling competition." Joshi also asked the CM's approval to build a small multi-sport stadium on the municipal corporation land near Manish Nagar. President of Maharashtra Wrestling Association Ramdas Tadas said that in 2026, Wardha will host the senior national wrestling championship. Minister of state for finance and planning Ashish Jaiswal, President of WFI Sanjay Kumar Singh, former MP Tadas, MLC Kripal Tumare, Working President Sandip Bhondwe, state minister Pankaj Bhoyar, President of Vidarbha Wrestling Association Sanjay Tirathkar, Hindkesri Yogesh Dhoke, Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijit Choudhary, and others shared the dais. Earlier the members of Amit Yoga Group won the hearts of the audience by presenting thrilling yoga demonstrations. Fadnavis appreciated the performance on the occasion of International Yoga Day.
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Tracy McGrady breaks silence on what could've happened if he played alongside Shaquille O'Neal during the Kobe Bryant era
(Image Source - Getty Images) Tracy McGrady is finally saying what many fans have long believed. After LeBron James questioned the obsession with rings, McGrady chimed in with a powerful claim: he could've been a champion if given the right team. The spotlight is now back on how we define NBA greatness — stats, impact, or titles. This isn't just about McGrady; it's about rewriting the rules of basketball legacy. Tracy McGrady believes replacing Kobe Bryant alongside Shaquille O'Neal would have made him an NBA champion LeBron James, a four-time NBA champion with 21 All-Star selections and four MVP awards, made it clear to Steve Nash that the number of rings shouldn't be the measure of a career. He pointed out legends like Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, and Charles Barkley, who were all game-changers but often overlooked in discussions of greatness because they didn't win many titles. LeBron James's message? A championship is a team achievement, not just a badge of personal glory. While chatting on ESPN's First Take, Tracy McGrady really took LeBron James's comments to heart, questioning, "What really defines greatness? Is it all about the championships?" He mentioned that he never got the chance to be part of a superteam. "If you swapped me with Kobe when he had Shaq, you really think I wouldn't have snagged a championship?" Tracy McGrady argued. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scam Exposed: What They Won't Tell You about zero trust! Expertinspector Click Here Undo During his prime, which lasted seven years and saw him average 26.9 points per game while racking up seven All-Star and All-NBA selections, Tracy McGrady just didn't have the team to make a serious playoff run, often getting knocked out in the first round. LeBron James questions why NFL legends like Dan Marino are celebrated without Super Bowl wins but NBA stars are not On Mind the Game, LeBron James pointed out that other sports don't measure greatness just by titles. He mentioned NFL legends like Dan Marino and Peyton Manning, whose legacies remain strong even with fewer championships. This wider perspective shows his frustration: why do basketball careers depend so heavily on rings when standout performances in other leagues aren't judged the same way? Tracy McGrady's situation is a perfect illustration. Throughout his career, he accumulated 18,381 points (19.6 ppg), secured 5,276 rebounds (5.6 rpg), and provided 4,161 assists (4.4 apg). However, without the necessary talent by his side, he couldn't achieve playoff success. LeBron James's recent disappointing season highlighted this fact: even greats require the right support. A legacy is built on both individual brilliance and the structure of the team. Also Read: Tyrese Haliburton quit social media after Game 1 and helped the Indiana Pacers reach Game 7 Next time a player's greatness is questioned solely on their titles, remember: championship rings often reveal more about team dynamics than pure talent. Follow all the live updates, scores, and highlights from the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
