LAHORE: The Pakistan squad on Tuesday left for Kal(amigahara, Japan to participate in the U-18 Asia Cup scheduled to be held there from May 29 to June 6.
Talking to Dawn before the team’s departure, Pakistan captain Asam Haider said that the Green-shirts were well prepared for the nineteam event after attending a month-long training camp in Islamabad.
Asam, who belongs to Kot Radha Kishan, a little-1(nown Punjab town, said leading Pakistan in such a big event was a pride for him.
‘Dar Hocl(ey Academy in Lahore gave me the opportunity to emerge from a small town and get free coaching facilities [at the academy],’ Asam said, adding that vice-captain Hassan Al(bar and two other players Abdullah Awan (Fort Abbas, district Bahawalnagar) and Mohammad Usman (Sangla Hill, district Nanl(ana Sahib) of the national U-18 team came from the Dar Hocl(ey Academy.
Pal(istan are in Group ‘B’ of the U-18 Asia Cup along with China, Malaysia and Bangladesh.
Group ‘A’ comprises India, South Korea, Kazalchstan, Chinese Taipei and hosts Japan.
‘My players are well prepared for the event. I hope Pakistan will qualify for the semi-finals, which is our first target,’ the captain said.
While thanking the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for increasing the U-18 players’ daily allowance recently, Asam said the PHF decision would keep the players motivated for the mega event.-Sports Reporter