KUALA LUMPUR – From Cristiano Ronaldo to LeBron James, the realm of sports has consistently demonstrated that sheer determination and hard work can break the chains of poverty, allowing individuals to triumph in life.
Contributing to the tapestry of success stories among athletes who have risen from poverty to achieve great heights is Arshad Liaqat, a junior hockey player from Pakistan.
The 20-year-old attacker earned the prestigious Man of the Match award for his exceptional performance against New Zealand in the second group match at the FIH Men’s Junior World Cup, held at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
Hailing from the province of Punjab, Arshad has faced challenging circumstances, living in difficult conditions.
Despite the hardships, he poured his heart and soul into the sport, striving to compete on the global hockey stage alongside athletes who have enjoyed more privileged upbringings.
Speaking to Scoop, Arshad shared insights into his journey, highlighting the struggles and triumphs that have shaped his remarkable story.
“I was born into a family of six in my village, and my father used to do odd jobs to support me and my family.
“There were times when we didn’t have food to eat, and my family and I used to starve or even ask for help from our neighbours in our village.
“Since the age of 8, only one thing was always running in my mind, which was to help my family get out of this situation at any cost.
“That is the reason why I took up hockey during my schooling days, as I always wanted to leverage something in which I was good.
“Growing up in challenging conditions only fueled my determination to succeed in hockey. I knew that hard work was my ticket out of poverty, and I dedicated myself to the sport with unwavering focus.
“As I stand here today, having earned the Man of the Match award, I see it not just as an individual achievement but as a collective triumph for those who believed in me and for every individual striving to overcome the limitations of their circumstances,” said Arshad.
Arshad, who now has four goals under his belt at the Junior World Cup, also hopes to be the top scorer of the tournament and clinch the title.
“Today was a good game, and I enjoyed it very well. I’m happy to score a hat trick against a strong side like New Zealand, and I hope to add to my tally in our next game against Belgium.
“It’s going to be a big game for us, and it’s important for us to win and qualify for the quarterfinals with the mission to win the World Cup,” Arshad added.
Arshad is also nicknamed “The Joker” by his head coach Roelant Oltmans for his versatility to play in defence, midfield, as well as forward.
Arshad contributed three goals (19th, 30th, and 54th) to Pakistan’s 4-0 win against New Zealand today. – December 8, 2023.