Former Pakistan field hockey player Hassan Sardar is widely regarded as one of the best field hockey players in the world and also the best player from Pakistan. Born on 22 October 1957 in Karachi, he graduated from Habib Public High School and attended the West Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology. Hassan, considered to be the most dexterous player, was graceful and deadly on the field, becoming Pakistan’s best ever center forward along with Hanif Khan, Kalimuliah, Shanaz Sheikh and Samiullah. The government of Pakistan bestowed ‘Pride of Performance’ award on this player in the year 1984.
Hassan started his international career in the year 1980. His flow and love for the game was so high that within two years time, he played in his first World Cup. No player can make it big all by himself. Many factors have to come together for a star like Hassan to be successful. His determination, skill and spirit helped him achieve major feats. Hassan played at a time when Pakistan hockey was at its best. Though his career was a pretty short one which lasted just over six years, he surely made it an era of victories and pride. His major strengths that any opposition team dreaded were his dribbling and body dodge. These two moves were perfected by Hassan and many opposition teams just couldn’t hold on to their defenses when he charged. His goals tally stands at 180 goals.
He led the national team to gold medal at 1984 Summer Olympic Games at Los Angeles in 1984. He participated in his first World Hockey Cup in Mumbai in 1982 and proved himself as the best center forward Pakistan has ever produced. He won the very first World Cup he played and was awarded the Man of the Tournament for scoring 11 goals. He was also marked for his major contribution to crush India with a score of 7-1 in 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi. He achieved a hat-trick on that occasion.
Though retired from international hockey but he has never let hockey leave him. He managed the Pakistan hockey team for a while and even today he is a concerned and worried activist about the current Pakistan hockey team. He feels that hockey has changed over the years, with technology and latest methods coming in, its time that Pakistan hockey should too move ahead and reclaim its position as the world number one. Presently, he is the chief selector of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).
Published in Daily Times, July 26th , 2017.