Sir: Pakistanis used to take pride in hockey. No other team could match the excellence and prowess of Pakistani players as they mastered the game with their practice and skill. However, since the mid-1990s, the sport started its downward trajectory and the days of glory and success gradually came to an end.
Due to a lack of incentives and modern facilities being offered to the hockey players, the game has faced an ever shrinking pool of aspiring players. The failure of concerned departments to develop hockey from the grass root level is also highly responsible for this decline.
It is disheartening to see the 4-time Olympic champion fail to reserve a spot in Rio Olympics 2016. It is a grim reminder of the dismal state of affairs. It needs urgent attention from the authorities in order to understand the underlying causes of its downfall.
FAKEHA FAIZ
Islamabad