Hosts China will meet Germany in the opening match of the world sports gala.
As many as 12 teams will vie for the top honour in the prestigious international event. Pakistan have won gold medal thrice in past. Pakistan earned gold in 1984 Los Angles Olympics last time under the leadership of Manzoor Junior.
According to schedule announced by the Beijing Olympics Games Organising Committee (BOGOC) and Federation of International Hockey (FIH), the green shirts will play five matches in the preliminary round to be held from August 11 to 19 and meet with all the other teams of pool.
Pakistan is bracketed in pool B along with Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and Great Britain. The pool B comprises Netherlands, Australia, China, Spain, Korea, and South Africa.
Pakistan's only hope for medals in Olympics, hockey team will meet Canada on August 13, Australia on August 15, South Africa on August 17 and New Zealand on August 19. The semi-finals of men's event will be played on August 21 while final and third position will be played on August 23.
It is penitent to mention that Pakistan will participate in four disciplines including hockey, shooting, swimming and athletic, as Pakistan got wild card entries in the all three games besides hockey.
Beijing Olympic Games 2008 will be held from August 8 to 24 in the capital city of China.
Pakistan faces Hong Kong in Asia Cup Cricket
KARACHI (APP) - Pakistan will take on minnow Hong Kong in the opening match of 9th Asia Cup Cricket Tournament at National Stadium here on June 24, according to programme made available on Friday.In the other match on day one, Bangladesh will be up against United Arab Emirates at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.
Six teams including four full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and two associate members will be taking part in 12-day competition.
All the matches of the championship will be day/night encounter and after group matches, top four teams will play super league with top two contesting for the crown on July 6.
Teams are placed in two groups. Group "A" comprised of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates (UAE) while holder India, Hong Kong and host Pakistan are drawn in group "B".
Out of 13 matches, Karachi will be holding as many as ten matches including the showpiece final.
Majorities of the matches are being staged in Karachi because of better climatic condition in Port City of Karachi.
Following is the programme:
June:
Tue 24:Bangladesh v UAE at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Tue 24:Pakistan v Hong Kong National Stadium, Karachi
Wed 25:Bangladesh v Sri Lanka Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Wed 25:Hong Kong v India National Stadium, Karachi
Thu 26:Sri Lanka v UAE Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Thu 26:India v Pakistan National Stadium, Karachi
Sat 28:A2 v B2 National Stadium, Karachi
Sun 29:A1 v B1 National Stadium, Karachi
Mon 30:A1 v A2 National Stadium, Karachi
July
Wed 2:B1 v B2 National Stadium, Karachi
Thu 3:A1 v B2 National Stadium, Karachi
Fri 4:A2 v B1 National Stadium, Karachi
Sun 6:Final National Stadium, Karachi
Aisam, Bopanna spark Pakistan, India diplomacy
PARIS (AFP) - Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna of India, though lost in first round of the French Open, are determined to prove that a little tennis diplomacy can help thaw relations between their two rival nations.The duo, who are close friends and have played together in a host of mostly low-key tournaments since 2002, made their Grand Slam debut in the men's doubles at the French Open on Thursday.
Unfortunately they had the misfortune to come up against the world's top pair, Mike and Bob Bryan of the United States, and crashed to a 6-1, 6-4 defeat.
But they believe they have a wider role to play outside the narrow confines of the world's tennis courts.
"Everyone is happy to see that we are at this level. Rohan and I won five Challengers in 2007, reached three finals as well as a main tour final," said Qureshi, who is 28, like his partner.
"People in Pakistan know Rohan well and root for both of us. He is my best friend on the tour."
Lahore-based Qureshi hasn't always had it so easy.
In 2002, his controversial decision to play doubles at Wimbledon with Israel's Amir Hadad was denounced by the Pakistan tennis federation who promptly threatened to ban him from the Davis Cup team.
"I had a lot of problems with the federation back then," recalled Qureshi.
"But everyone got the message that you can't mix politics, religion and culture into sport and they learned a lot from it. My federation is happy with the results that Rohan and I have had playing together."
Both men believe that the sporting thaw, which has already seen the two countries' much-respected cricket teams undertake recipricol tours, will continue with them aiming to do their bit by playing at Wimbledon next month.
"We have bilateral ties in tennis. India will come to Pakistan and then we go there at the end of the year," he said.
"Look at the Indian Premier League. There are many Pakistanis and Indians in the same team. It's great. If cricketers can play together, there should be no problem for us."
Bopanna believes both the India and Pakistan public have responded positively to the partnership which was boosted when they finished runners-up at the main tour event in Mumbai in September last year.
"People are pleased that the two different countries are playing together. We played in India and made the final," he said.
"We just get along so well."
Bopanna is in good company when it comes to potentially volatile partnerships; his Indian compatriot Sania Mirza courted controversy at Wimbledon in 2007 when she played women's doubles with Israel's Shahar Peer.
