Antwerp: Pakistan’s 0-1 loss to Ireland at the Hockey World League in Belgium ensured the four-time former world champions miss qualifying for Rio 2016. This is the first time in the history of Pakistan hockey that the country will miss out on playing in the Olympic Games.
Playing for the fifth place against Ireland, Pakistan continued with their disappointing display in Antwerp to follow up on their earlier 2-2 draws against arch-rivals India and Poland and a 6-1 hammering from Australia.
The loss that hurt Pakistan was Wednesday’s 1-2 result against Great Britain in the quarter-finals. Great Britain earned a spot in the World League Finals to be hosted by India later this year, while also boosting their prospects of earning one of three Olympic qualification spots available at this tournament.
It was Great Britain that had knocked India out of the 2008 Olympic Games line-up few years back. That was the only time that eight-time gold medalists India had failed to feature in the Olympics.
Last year, Pakistan had failed to qualify for the World Cup following a disastrous performance at the 9th Asia Cup help in Ipoh, Malaysia. The green shirts had eventually finished in seventh place.
