OLYMPICS /
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Pakistani Olympic delegation leaves for China, targeting hockey medal
Xinhua
Updated: 2008-08-01 10:40
ISLAMABAD -- The 35-member Pakistani Olympic delegation left for China on Thursday night, targeting field hockey medal.
The delegation comprises 21 players and 14 officials.
Pakistan is only qualified to compete in the men's field hockey and some of its players are going to participate in the Beijing Olympics with wild cards.
Pakistan, the three-time Olympic and four-time world champions, expects the country could retain its past glory in the 12-team hockey event.
Pakistan hockey team coach Naveed Alam told Xinhua that the team had never won a gold medal since the 1984 Olympics.
The Pakistani hockey team gained laurels for the country in the 1960, 1968 and 1984 Olympics respectively, but saw a slump in the past years.
Pakistan is placed in Group B together with Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, Britain and South Africa. China, Germany, Spain, South Korea, New Zealand and Belgium are in group A.