Pakistan Olympics squad to leave for China on Thursday

LAHORE - Pakistani squad will leave for China on Thursday to participate in Beijing Olympics.
The 37-member squad includes 23 players and 14 officials. A meeting of the managers and contingent Officials of 29th Olympic Games will be held on July 29 at 2000 hours in the Committee Room, Pakistan Sports Board, Islamabad. Syed Aqil Shah, Chef-de-Mission and Minister for Sports, NWFP will preside over the meeting.
The meeting will discuss and finalise the Chinese reception, departure the contingent, traveling uniform, march past uniform, and discipline on and off the field etc. The 35-member Pakistan contingent of hockey, athletics, swimming, shooting and contingent officials will participate in the Olympic scheduled to be held at Beijing (China) from August 8-24. The hockey team has qualified to participate in the Games after winning bronze medal in the 15th Asian Games held at Doha Qatar. The other sportspersons in athletics, swimming and shooting are participating on wild cards.
The Chinese Embassy will hold reception in honour of Pakistan contingent on July 31 at 1800 hours in the Chinese Embassy, Islamabad. The reception will be attended by all members of the contingent, senior Officers of the Ministry of Sports, Pakistan Sports Board and Pakistan Olympic Association. Thereafter, Pakistan Contingent will depart Beijing from Islamabad Airport.
Pakistani Olympic team to leave for China Thursday
Among the Pakistani delegation for the Beijing field hockey is its main hopes for a Olympic medal.Pakistan is only qualified to compete in the men's field hockey and some of its players are also 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-nation hockey event.
"Our endeavor was to form a combination having experience and youth in the ranks and the team announced for the grand event is capable of fetching glory," said President of Pakistan Hockey Federation Zafarullah Jamali earlier.
The Pakistan hockey team gained laurels for the country in the 1960, 1968 and 1984 Olympics separately, but has seen 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.