Islamabad: Pakistan’s national hockey team returned home after winning the men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2012 in Doha, Qatar.
Pakistan won the field hockey title by beating defending champions and archrivals India 5-4 at the Al Rayyan Hockey Stadium on December 27, reports Xinhua.
The Asian champion squad, led by captain Mohammad Imran, landed at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore on Saturday evening.
Talking to the media, Imran said the hard work and the persistent performance by the players won the title.
“Our morale was already high after winning the bronze in Australia earlier this month. We played as a unit and finally the trophy is in our hands,” said the skipper.
Meanwhile, head coach Akhtar Rasool said the Pakistan team had strengthened their position in the Asian circuit by winning the Asian title.
“Having secured third position in the World Champions Trophy and now clinching the Asian Champions Trophy mean that the team have emerged well at the Asian level besides faring well in other international events,” argued the head coach.
Hundreds of excited fans welcomed the national heroes with traditional dance, drum beatings, presenting garlands and showering them with flower petals. Many fans distributed sweets among people who were present at the airport.
A total of six teams including Pakistan, India, China, Oman, Japan and Malaysia participated in the eight-day event and every team played once against each other.
Pakistan entered the tournament as the top-ranked team after clinching the bronze medal in the Champions Trophy in Australia.
India, who won the title last year by beating Pakistan 4-2 through penalty shoot-out in China, finished runners-up.
Pakistan lost its league match against India 1-2 but beat Oman 8-3, China 5-2, and played 3-3 draw against Malaysia before thrashing Japan 5-2 in their last pool match.
