The Big Read The Hockey Paper charts the decline and political shenanigans of Pakistan hockey and asks if the once great nation can return to former heights
20 years ago this spring, Pakistan‘s hockey chiefs launched a blueprint to revive the sport’s fortunes. Most observers would have scoffed at the plan (another one, amid alleged administration malpractice, decline on the field, political factions off it) to return to heights which hadn’t been realised since men’s World Cup success in 1994, their last major triumph.
Announcing a new logo, even a rare “five-year plan”, winning bonuses for national team players and increased rupee daily allowances, the then Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president said: “Once things fall in the right place, gold medals will also come.”
Short sightedness? For five years later officials had hoped to have a blue artificial pitch, to mirror the London 2012 Olympic smurf turf, installed in Lahore. Botched work and a contractor dispute put paid to that idea. Another blow to a nation trying to return to their gilded pre-astro past.
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