Pakistan's Women hockey team leave for Malaysia
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Women’s Hockey team has left for Malaysia to participate in the First Women’s Hockey Qualifier Tournament for the Asian Games 2006, which will be played from June 5 to 11 at Malaysia. Pakistan contingent consisted of 6 officials and 18 players.

According to spokesman of Pakistan Hockey Federation, Aamir Raza, team Captain Razia Malik shows her confidence to qualify in the Asian Games, which will be staged in December 2006 in Doha, Qatar.

While talking to media before departure for a mega event of women’s hockey she stated that “we are fully prepare for this event our coach Nasir Ali and the federation has given us all the opportunities to learn the skills of hockey. We are confident to qualify in the Asian Games and create a new history in the Pakistan women hockey, “she added.

Pakistani team will play their first match against Iran on the opening day of the tournament. Five teams are participating in the 7-day’s fixture and the top four teams will qualify for the Asian Games to be held in Doha, Qatar in December this year.

The participating teams are Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Iran, Pakistan, and host Malaysia. The inaugural match of the Tournament will be played between Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei on June 5.

Names of squad are as under:

Barrister Shahida Jamil (Chef de mission) Parveen Sikandar Gill (Chief Manager & Deputy Clief-De-Mission) Ghazala Tariq (Assistant Manager) Nasir Ali (Chief Coach) Zaib-un- Nisa (Assistant Coach)Huma Imtiaz (Physiotherapist) players are Saman Rashid,Linn Afroz, Aqeela Naseem, Nadia, Sanam Yousaf, Amna Mir, Saima Afzal, Asia Sadiq, Razia Malik (C )Rabia Qadir, Uzma Lal, Amna Awan, Azra Nasir,Neelama Hassan, Benish Hayat Shumaila Hafeez, Sonia Khan. Shaista Javed (Judge) Razia Rizvi (Umpire) will also travel with the team.

Schedule is as under:

June 5: Monday Chinese Taipei vs. Hong Kong, Iran vs. Pakistan
Jun 6: Pakistan vs. Malaysia Tuesday Hong Kong vs. Iran ,
June 7: Wednesday Rest Day
June 8: Thursday Chinese Taipei vs. Malaysia, Hong Kong vs. Pakistan
June 9: Friday Chinese Taipei vs. Pakistan, Iran vs. Malaysia
June 10: Saturday Rest day
June 11: Sunday Chinese Taipei vs Iran.●