Sept 10 associated with glory and infamy of Pakistan hockey in Olympics

KARACHI For Pakistan hockey, September 10 would always remain an important date in its Olympic history when on that date they rose to dizzying heights of glory in 1960 at Rome when they won the first Olympics gold and on the same date 12 years later, they plummeted to the depths of infamy when they lost Munich Olympics final amidst scenes of unprecedented rowdies at the medal podium. In Rome, Pakistan led by Abdul Hamid Hamidi ended 32 years domination of arch-rival India at the Velodrome as the Pakistanis edge past their rival 1-0. Naseer Ahmed Bunda scored in the 11th minute off a centre from right winger Noor Alam to usher a new era for Pakistan hockey. Tremendous jubilation marked Pakistans first win in the Olympics hockey. It was exactly evening time of Rome when Pakistani flag went up the mast to the tune of the Pakistan national anthem played first time in Olympics Games. IOC president Avery Brundage awarded medals to the Pakistani and Indian teams. Pakistan team at Rome was: Abdul Hamid (captain), Latif ur Rehman, Zakir Hussain, Qazi Waheed, Habib ur Rehman, Ch Ghulam Rasool, Habib Kiddie, Munir Dar, Khurshid, Manzoor Bajwa, Noor Alam, Anwar Ahmed, Zakauddin, Naseer Bunda, Muhammad Afzal, Hafeez Ahmed, Musarrat Ali. IA Abbasi was the manager while Muhammad Hussain assistant manager. However, the scene 12 years later at Munich Olympics 1972 was totally different. Asad Malik-led Pakistan after losing 1-0 to host West Germany to a goal scored by Krause from penalty corner in the final to surrender its gold last time won in Mexico City in 1968. The entire Pakistani playing 11 misbehaved at the medal ceremony. There was total chaos in Pakistani camp and the Pakistan players standing on the medal podium misbehaved refusing to get the medals round their necks. One player Shahnaz Shaikh hung the medal in his shoe which was the ultimate disrespect that a sportsman could give to an Olympic medal. Some supporters of Pakistani team managed access to the playing areas and poured bucket full of water on International Hockey Federation president RenT Frank, a good friend of Pakistan. The FIH, after an investigation, suspended the entire hockey team. The officials were banned from hockey for life. Pakistan team at Munich was: Asad Malik (captain), Saeed Anwar (vice captain), Fazalur Rehman, Riaz Ahmed, Jahangir Butt, Tanvir Dar, Abdul Rashid Jr, Islahuddin, Shahnaz Shaikh, Saleem Sherwani, Muhammed Aslam, Muhammed Zahid, Akhtarul Islam, Munawwar uz Zaman, Iftekhar Syed, Muhammed Iqbal, Umer Farooq, Arshad Ali, Akhtar Rasool and Mudassar Asghar. Dr Ghulam Rasool Chaudhry was manager and Zakauddin coach.