Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan hockey team finished a disappointing fifth at the recently concluded Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia. Nevertheless, their striker Arsalan Qadir ended as tournament’s top scorer with six goals. He also won two ‘Man of the Match’ awards. His achievement provided Pakistan hockey fans something to cheer about. In fact, it is not the first time that the DG Khan boy has achieved this distinction at an international event. Pakistan won the gold at the South Asian Games in India a few months back, their last international engagement before the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. There, as well, Arsalan was the highest goal scorer.

His first proud moment had come at the inaugural Youth Olympics in 2010. Arsalan played a stellar role in Pakistan winning the silver medal, country’s solitary medal at the games competed by 204 countries in 26 sports. With 10 goals, the brilliant centre forward finished as the joint top scorer. Arsalan gives a lot of credit to the Dar Hockey Academy for nurturing his talent. “Turning point in my career came when I joined the Lahore-based Dar Hockey Academy in 2008. Excellent training on astro-turf was imparted by the coaching team headed by decorated Olympian Akhlaq. We, the outstation boys, were also provided with boarding and lodging as well as schooling by the academy. My game got really polished. “

Within one year, he got his first national selection. Arsalan was a member of Pakistan’s victorious side at the Under-18 Asia Cup in 2009. Thereafter, he toured abroad regularly with age based national teams. It was in 2013, when he debuted for Pakistan’s senior national team during the bilateral series in Australia. A year later, Arsalan shot to instant national fame when his two classic finishes enabled Pakistan to defeat the hosts India 4-3 in a high voltage semifinal at the2014 Champions Trophy. However, he was yet to cement a regular place in the national side. Now, after his excellent displays at two back to back events, Arsalan deserves to be regarded as Pakistan’s foremost striker.

The Dar HA was established in 2006. In 2009, academy boys won first national junior selection. Since then, no Pakistan age group team has been without an academy boy. In 2012, Khalid Bhatti made academy proud by winning the national senior cap. Four other boys have also gained senior colours. After Arsalan’s recent virtuoso displays in the international arena, the academy sees in him possibly its first real international star.