Pakistan were able to end the drought and win their first FIH medal in 8 years after beating India by a margin of 3-2 in the Champions Trophy Hockey. Last time they won a medal, that too was Bronze, during the Champions Trophy 2004 in Lahore. This was also Pakistan's first medal after the Asian Games 2010, when they were able to secure the gold medal beating Malaysia 2-0 in Guangzhou, China.

Is this victory of any significance. How did we perform throughout the tournament. Who were the standout players. What's in future for Pakistan, are a few things we need to look at.

Yes, this victory is significant. Looking at Pakistan's performance in the Olympic games where they were able to secure the 7th position, this is an improvement. We should keep in mind that all the major teams in the tournament played many young players and almost had second string squads. Still winning bronze in such a high profile tournament will help the Pakistani players and install the belief that they can compete at the top level and win against the top teams.

In Pakistan’s penultimate Pool A match at the Riverbank Arena, fans were treated to some enticing and electrifying hockey in what was otherwise a grim

 and miserable day due to the rain.The match was a do or die situation for Pakistan who needed to win in order to have any chance of progressing to the semi-finals. 

South Africa started strongly with Thornton McDade scoring in only the first minute of play putting the South Africans into the lead. 25 year-old Abdul Haseem Khan scored then scored the leveller for Pakistan. South Africa then once again took the lead as Justin Reid-Ross scored off a penalty corner.Pakistan then scored two goals in quick succession thanks to Shafqat Rasool and Abdul Haseem Khan for the second time in the match. With Pakistan in the lead, the Proteas hit back once again with Reid-Ross scoring his second goal of the match in the last minute of first-half play. The score at Half-time being 3-3.

Pakistan’s Olympic campaign suffered a big blow when they lost 4-1 at the hands of Host nation GB in the Pool A hockey match. Pakistan was hoping to win the match in order to secure the points that they desperately needed to progress to the further stages of the tournament.

However the hosts did not allow such a victory as they enforced a crushing defeat at the Riverbank Arena. Team GB pressed there case for victory in only the 4^th minute of play, as James Tindall scored for the home side. He was then backed up by the good British defence that did not allow Pakistan the opportunity to level the score. Jonty Clarke then scored the second goal for the home side as GB extended their advantage on the Pakistanis.

In the second half, British star Ashley Jackson stole the show with two goals in relatively quick succession to put the home side in a secure position from which there was no coming back for Pakistan. Captain Sohail Abbas salvaged some pride for Pakistan as he successfully scored in the last minute off a penalty corner.

The group standings are still the same with Pakistan positioned in third. Pakistan now have two matches remaining, against South Africa and Australia. 

In the recently concluded Pool A Hockey match, Pakistan secured a good win against South American giants Argentina. With Argentina tipped to win

the game comprehensively, following some poor hockey from the green shirts. However they impressed a decent Pakistani contingent at the Riverbank Arena in London and delivered a 2-0 victory, with Muhammad Imran and Captain Sohail Abbas being the scorers.

Though Argentina played decent and defensive hockey, the lapse in concentrations cost them two penalty corners on which Pakistan were able to capitalise and secure the win. Pakistan are now placed third in the pool with hosts GB above them in second due to a better goal difference and the mighty Australians sitting nicely at the top of the pack.

Pakistan’s next match is on the 3^rd of August against hosts GB, and the green shirts will be hoping for another win to almost secure their involvement in the next stages of the competition.

The Pakistan team that came out to face Spain in their first match of the olympic campaign, was very different to the team that pakistani fans had to endure during the recently concluded sultan azlan shah cup. The Pakistanis played with intent and control and did not allow the Spanish players who are ranked 3 places above the green shirts to steal the show. At half time the score remained 0-0 with 3 penalty corners being seen, 2 from Pakistan and 1 from Spain. Shakeel Abbasi, Pakistan's star forward createdsome opportunities but the green shirts failed to take advantage but will go into the second-half slightly on top and looking to secure a win. 

Spain's captain Santiago Freixa injured his arm near the close of the first half and his condition is unknown currently.

By Imran Asghar

The Pakistan hockey team are to travel to Staffordshire in July to prepare for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Pakistan Hockey Federation has selected Cannock Hockey Club as its final training base to get ready for the the event.

Pakistan has been drawn in a tough group that also includes the hosts, GB, for the preliminary round of the Olympic hockey tournament.

Councillor Pat Corfield, cabinet member for culture, communities and customers at Staffordshire County Council, said: "We're very proud to attract a top ten nation to use the excellent sporting facilities here in Staffordshire.

"We extended a warm welcome to the Pakistani team during a previous visit in 2009, and the combination of our hospitality and top-drawer facilities has encouraged them to return." she added.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Wednesday cancelled the tri-nation tournament

after India and Malaysia decided to skip the event due to security reasons.

Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary Asif Bajwa said the

board was informed that the government in New Delhi had

blocked the visit. "It is very disappointing that India... has

refused to send their team, terming the current situation

not conducive for the tour," Bajwa told AFP

The tournament assumed significance as it would have been

the first visit in eight years by an Indian hockey team to

Pakistan. The three-nation competition was to take place

from April 9 to 13. 

"We had made top-level security arrangements for the event

and had thought that the event will give a new fillip to Indo-Pak

hockey as both countries are also (participating) in London Olympics

2012, but everything is spoiled," said Bajwa.

The hockey stars from Pakistan arrived Chandigarh early in the day, expressing their solidarity for

Indian hockey, and to participate in the Bridgestone World Series Hockey  (WSH). 

Former Pakistan skipper Zeeshan Ashraf midfielder Adnan Maqsood of Karnataka Lions crossed over from the Wagah border, while star forward Rehan Butt, striker Shakeel Abbasi and Waseem Ahmed flew into Delhi from Lahore earlier on Wednesday.Mohammad Imran and Imran Warsi will also star in the WHS.

"Bridgestone WSH is the first of its kind league to be held in the history of hockey and we are thrilled to be participating in the tournament," said Zeeshan Ashraf. "It's fantastic that hockey can provide a great platform for forging friendship between India and Pakistan. I hope our cricketers will also get to play together in the IPL. 'Yeh silsila chalta rahna chahiye' (This association should continue)," he added. 

Earlier it was announced by the Pakistan Hockey Federation that any Pakistani player participating in the league would be banned immediately. But despite

this Butt and Abbasi have decided to take part in this league. Butt also requested the PHF to reconsider its decision.

British Pakistani boxing star Amir Khan got engaged with the American Pakistani student Faryal Makhdoom when he gave her the £100,000 three diamond rings on 29th January.

According to The Sun newspaper, the second generation Pakistanis  swapped the rings in front of 1,000 people at a lavish £150,000 engagement party at Bolton Wanderers’ Reebok Stadium where rich footballers such as Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Ricky Hatton, David Haye are just some of people on the guest list.

(From KheloPakistan Sports Desk) - The Pakistani national hockey team players will receive a new set of central contracts by the end of February 2012. Previously, the Pakistan Hockey Federation had offered 3 month central contracts to the players in September last year, which have expired in December.

The PHF has directed the national selectors to keep in view the performance of Pakistan players in the recently concluded Champions trophy, as well as the National Hockey Championship due to start on January 26^th to finalize a list of players.

The National Hockey Championship starts on the 26^th of this month and will last till 11^th of February. After which the list of centrally contracted players will be issued. PHF selectors have also decided to include a few junior team players, where as Rehan Butt who wasn’t issued a contract in September last year will be under the micro scope of the selectors in the upcoming tournament.