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(Sports) Pak hockey officials resign after team fails to qualify for 2016 Olympics

Xinhua, July 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

Chief selector of Pakistan's national team of men's field hockey Islahuddin Siddiqui and other members of the selection committee resigned from their posts on Saturday after the team failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, officials said.

Talking to media, former Olympian Isalahuddin said "the hockey team didn't perform up to expectations. New people should get a chance so that they can do something good for hockey."

Pakistan on Friday lost its last chance of qualifying for Olympics by losing its classification match against Ireland 1-0 at the World Hockey League in Belgium, a tournament which serves as a qualifying round for next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

It is the first time in the game's history that Pakistan failed to qualify for the mega event.

Pakistan, a three time Olympic gold medalist and four time world champion in the sport, needed to finish among the top five for getting any chance to qualify for the Olympics.

Pakistan, once a powerhouse in world hockey, also failed to qualify for the Hockey World Cup last year for the first time in the history of the event.

In the World Hockey League, Pakistan failed to qualify for the semifinal of the event after losing quarterfinal against England. Pakistan could win only one league match against Poland, finished equal against India and France, and lost heavily at the hands of Australia.

The coach of Pakistan's junior team, Kamran Ashraf, also resigned from his post on Saturday after hue and cry in the country.

On Saturday, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is also patron in chief of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, expressed concern over the embarrassing performance of the hockey team in World Hockey League. The prime minister has formed a five-member committee that will know the reasons behind the team's poor performance.

He also sought recommendations for uplifting the country's national sport. Endi