Touching rock bottom

DISAPPOINTING, but not surprising. This is what sums up the performance of the Pakistani contingent at the Beijing Olympics. It was expected to return empty-handed and this is exactly what has happened. No shattered hopes there. The swimmers and the athletes, falling in the heats, were quite a few seconds off the pace which is practically an eternity in their respective disciplines where micro-seconds often separate the top ten. The lone shooter in the party also fell at the first whiff of competition. Despite all the chest-thumping rhetoric by the Pakistan Hockey Federation in the run-up to the event, no one pinned much of a hope in the national team because of the string of failures it had registered over the last several years. However, by finishing eighth in a field of 12, the team did produce a surprise of sorts because in terms of ranking it is the worst Olympic finish for the greenshirts ever. The plight of the national game has been a cause of much worry for far too long. From drawing rooms to board meetings, it has been discussed to death. In fact, it has now become unfashionable to talk about it anymore. What the game has not seen beyond discussion is practical input from the government. From appointing professionals sincere and competent to the cause of the game to injecting the required amount of funds and facilities, the government has failed on every single count.

We can find fault with the players or the coaches, but the fact remains that the game is struggling to attract young lads who may wish to take it as a fulltime activity because, unlike cricket, there is no career to be made in hockey. There are no central contracts for senior players, and no jobs for those who fail to make the national grade. This is certainly not a scenario smart enough for someone to wish to be a part of. In athletics and swimming, we are in no position to produce a Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps in the next hundred years. But for hockey, there is still a glimmer of hope. When things hit rock bottom, it is often their best chance to bounce back. The worst-ever finish in Beijing can still work in our favour, provided we are up to the task.