15th Asian Games Doha

Pakistan aims to avenge Malaysia in Hockey

DOHA—Once a power house of hockey, Pakistan will be aiming to avenge from Malaysia for their last Games loss four years ago at Busan by playing the bronze medallist in the opening match of the Doha Asian Games hockey competition here tomorrow, Monday at Al-Rayyan hockey field.
Former world and Asian champions Pakistan who are now without possession of any hockey title were knocked out of the medal run first time in the Games history when Malaysia beat them for bronze medal match in last Games in South Korea. But the dream of re-claiming the hockey gold is not that easy in the presence of spirited Malaysian and high flying title holders Korea and from Indian side who is also trying to reunite. The chief coach of the team former Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh believes a title win can help in reviving the fortunes of hockey and can open a new era for Pakistan to re-start its journey to the top afresh. “ Our hockey desperately needs a win not only to better its image but also to generate interest of youth to this sport “, he told APP on the eve of the match on Sunday after a practice session.
The team is without penalty corner shooter Sohail Abbas, centre half and former captain Muhammad Saqlain, left half Waseem Ahmad, half backs Dilawar Hussain, and Ghazanfar Ali who did not report to the training camp ahead of the Games and instead joined professional league abroad. “ If we have to build our team for future needs we have to forget banking on these players as they have passed their prime age in the hockey , aging players cannot serve the hockey with that vigour which the young player possess “,he asserted.
The former Olympian said efforts have been made to create understanding and coordination in the new look Pak team which is lack experience in terms of a few new faces in the squad. “ Even though we will be a very decent rival in all aspects of the game and the immediate task we face is to start our run in the tournament on a victorious note ,setting aside all sour memories of the past “,he said.
The team official said he wants to see the team progressing in the tournament step by step and the most important thing is to measure the strength of the opponents in each match to chalk up a match plan to get desired results. “ Our performance in recent months was not satisfactory as we finished 6th in the World Cup three months ago in Germany and the sad part of the story is that even those star players who reserved their decision of retirement could not help the side in the mega event “,he said adding “ now it is the time that young players should come forward to prove that they are equally good and can fit in the role in demanding situation “.

Pak oarsmen fail to qualify in rowing

DOHA—Pakistani rowers started their campaign in the Doha Asian Games rowing competition on a dismal note with their elimination in the heats of two different events here on Sunday.
Pakistani rowers put up pathetic show as the pair of Zia Zohiab Mashim and Muhammad Akram were at last and fourth place in the mens double sculls heat from which China and South Korea qualified. Pakistan pair clocked 4.14.86sec compared to winners time of 3.48.64sec.
Out of three country heat in mens light weight sculls, Karim Naimat and Muhammad Akram from Pakistan returned a timing of 3.39.84sec and claimed the second place but could not make it to the final round as Chinese Taipei (4.34.07sec) was the lone team to qualify. Iraq finished at third place for nothing.

China shooting champs claim trio of titles

DOHA—Shooting star: China’s Tan Zongliang, winner of the 10m air pistol crown for the third timeChina’s sharpshooters were on target to take the men’s and women’s 15th Asian Games 10m air pistol titles at Lusail Shooting Complex, with Tan Zongliang and Tao Luna retaining their titles for the third consecutive time.
Men’s world no 1 Tan Zongliang scored 687.1, more than three points down on his score in Busan four years ago but enough for the 35 year-old to defeat the silver medallist, DPR Korea’s Kim Jong Su – a double Asian Games champion in 25m air pistol, who finished with a score of 684.8. It was the sixth straight time China has won the crown. Korea’s Jin Jong Oh, silver medallist in Busan four years ago, took bronze with 683.4 while teammate Lee Daemyung missed out on medal by a mere 0.4 points. “I was aiming for the gold, so I don’t feel too good,” said disappointed silver medallist Kim.
Jin was also downhearted: “It should have been gold, so I am disappointed and am sorry that I have disappointed a lot of people who had expectations of me. “I am getting married after this Games and wanted to give a gold medal as a present to my fiancée.” He is now looking forward to his favoured event - the 50m pistol. “I will be strong and do my best.”
In the women’s final, Sydney 2000 Olympic champion Tao Luna also successfully defended her title for the third time. The 32 year-old finished qualification in a new Games record, 391, three points ahead of her compatriot, Guo Wenjun, and stretched her lead in the final round to win by 3.3 points. Former Asian Champion Kim Byung Hee of Korea claimed bronze.
Tao was delighted to claim her third Asian Games gold: “This medal is more important for me than the last one,” she said. “”I am satisfied with this result this time because I got this result under pressure.” Korean bronze medallist Kim was delighted to win a medal. “I am very shaky at the moment’ she said. “I thought that I was out of the medals altogether but I have won a medal.”

China’s women paddlers get gold

DOHA—China’s women’s table tennis team celebrated winning the team event, defeating Singapore in the final as Wang Nan, Guo Yan and Guo Yue all won their singles matches comfortably. Wang walloped Sun Bei Bei 3-1, Guo saw off Li Jia Wei by the same score and the other Guo rounded things off with a three-love victory over Tan Paey Fern. All three women won every match they played during the competition. Li Xiaoxia and Chen Qing also get medals as they made up the five-woman team, but were not required to play in the final.

Golden glory for Kuwaiti shooter

DOHA—Rising Kuwaiti shooting star Naser Meqlad won his first major international title and gold medal in the men’s trap shooting at Lusail Shooting Complex. Twenty four year-old Meqlad finished qualification day 1, held on 2 December, ahead of the rest of the field and held on to that position after qualification day 2 to take a one-shot lead into the 25 shot final.
He fought off the challenge from reigning world champion, Manavjit Singh Sandhu of India and clinched gold with the 23rd shot in the final, to record a 133 winning score. Meqlad’s gold medal is the third individual gold medal Kuwait has won in shooting at an Asian Games. Compatriot Khaled Almudhaf clinched the bronze medal with a 128 score. The 2002 World Champion shooter was 14th after qualification day 1, but defied his lower ranking to rise into a medal position. He notched up the best score of 20 among six final shooters.
Almudhaf’s bronze marked the second time Kuwait has two medals in an individual shooting event at an Asian Games. Kuwaitis Fehaid Al-Deehani and Fahad Al-Deehani won gold and silver in the trap at Bangkok in 1998. Shooters aiming at clay targets flying 105 km/h at unpredictable angles faced an extremely difficult weather mix of unseasonal cold temperatures, heavy rain and gusting winds, during the two days of competition at the shooting complex.
After his victory, Meqlad said: “It is too windy and it does affect me a bit, but everyone is competed under this condition. And actually, I do feel pressure when Sandhu Manavjit Singh’s marks are close to me. “Actually, Sandhu performed very well too. I really need to say thank you to all of my Kuwait people, especially my coach and family too.” Thirty year-old professional shooter Sandhu was a strong gold medal favourite in this event, but lay second after qualification day 1.—Agencies