ARGENTINA, SALTA, Dec 7 (APP): World’s most fearsome penalty corner expert, Sohail Abbas expressed his delight on reaching another milestone in his international hockey career by completing his 300 goals, breaking his own previous record.
Sohail who scored both the goals in Pakistan’s 2-0 win over Canada in Champions Challenge Cup had earlier broken 22 year old record of Dutch hockey legend Paul Litjens of scoring highest 267 goals. Sohail shattered this record way back in 1998-9 in Pak-India hockey series.
“It is good to re-write hockey record books, but most important thing is to see my team winning and my joy is doubled as we beat Canada to have a good start in the Champions Challenge Cup”,he told APP here on Sunday after the match.
Humble and quiet, Sohail from Karachi said he has a unique feeling of breaking his own record. “Records are made to break but breaking your own record is quite a different feeling”, he said.
34-year old Sohail who appeared in 318 international hockey match, said he knows that he will not be a part of the national team in future for quite a long time but as long as he is a part of the squad he will endeavor to justify his inclusion. “It is only possible when you are fully focused and I am doing extra hard work and training to produce best result with the help of my experience and abilities”, he added.
He left full back aid he does not play hockey for creating records but when he shattered the record of Dutchman Paul Litjens he complimented him (Sohail) by saying “you have made an old man cry.”
“It may be possible that someone will emerge in hockey in future to break my record as nothing is impossible in sports”, he remarked.
When asked what were his feelings when he scored his 300th goal in front of almost empty stadium with around forty to fifty spectators around, he said playing in the presence of a big audience is always good as spectators encourage the extraordinary performance of a player and he was feeling little sad while playing in an empty arena where just few hands clapped for his unique feat.
Sohail said he looks forward to goal scoring performance in the Champions Challenge Cup, and he will be very happy if his team claims the title to qualify for the next years Champions Trophy.
“I have played enough international hockey in my 16 years career and before ending my association with hockey I want to see my team winning a major title”,he said. “Our team is doing good at the moment, last month we qualified for next years World Cup in India and we have to do our best to maintain the record of our recent victories”, he said.
“There are young players in the team who are fast learner and I feel good in the role of a mentor by passing on whatever knowledge and finer points of the game I have”, he said.
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