When Pakistan’s women hockey players went to Bangkok for the Asian Hockey Federation Cup, not many believed that they had any hopes of winning even a single match. After all, this was the team’s first participation in an international event after three years. Many thought that it would be an achievement if Pakistani girls avoided defeats by big margins; not many were prepared to give them much chance.

All changed when the girls drew their opening fixture with Hong Kong. Next, they demolished Cambodia 11-0. In the last pool game, Pakistan only needed to avoid defeat against Singapore to qualify for the semifinals. With everything to play for, the team entered the match with determination. They went ahead before the first half ended.

They had a two-goal cushion. The lead remained intact deep into the second half. But there was a twist in the story. Singapore equalised in the 59th minute. Over the last 11 minutes, the Singaporeans camped in Pakistani 23 metres and repeatedly raided their goal, making a number of attempts, through field play as well as via penalty corners, but failed to find the winner. And Pakistan made history by making it to the semi-finals of the AHF Cup.

All agreed that Pakistani’s goalkeeper Rizwana Yasmin was the player of the match as her heroics made it all possible. She had the game of her life.

Pakistan failed to progress further. Nevertheless, the fourth position was a great surprise for everyone; pleasant for Pakistanis. Another first happened. Rizwana was declared ‘the Goalkeeper of the Tournament’. It was the first time a Pakistani woman player won an individual award in an event of such a magnitude.

She comes from Gojra. The tiny tehsil has been the biggest nursery of Pakistan hockey for the last 30 years.

Rizwana wasn’t initially interested in hockey. "I was an athlete during my school days and excelled in sprints and long jump. I also won district age group competitions.  Whenever hockey appeared on the TV screen, I switched to another channel; didn’t even appreciate the sport."

It changed only when she entered college. "The sports in-charge of the college was my mother’s close friend. She desired to strengthen the college hockey team and wanted me to start playing hockey. I was reluctant. She prevailed upon me saying, "You will enjoy the sport as hockey involves a lot of sprinting."

Still, it wasn’t goalkeeping. "When I entered the hockey ground for the first time, I only thought of playing in the forward line. That day, Gojra’s legendary hockey coach late Aslam Roda was also in the ground with a girls’ team. His side’s goalkeeper wasn’t ready for the match perhaps for some fitness problem. Ustad Roda was probably aware of my athletics credentials, and asked me to pad up. Then he himself displayed wall kicking with a hockey ball before asking me to do the same. I did, and Roda declared, ‘you have the perfect leg movements, speed and reflexes for a goalkeeper.’ I couldn’t contest the great talent hunter."

Ustad Roda’s words proved prophetic. "I played for the college team and got selected for the board team. There was no looking back: national under 17 camp; national senior camp for Malaysia. All that happened in less than two months. I was only 18 when I had my first taste of international hockey, with Pakistan under-21s in 2008."

It was the lack of Pakistan’s participation that delayed Rizwana’s full international debut. "It was 2012 when I first represented Pakistan’s national team, in Singapore. Next year, we played in Thailand. Thereafter, Pakistani women hockey team had to wait for more than three years before the recent travel to Thailand. I did make a couple of tours to India with the Punjab teams."

Goalkeeping in hockey is apparently a dangerous job as the body is always in the line of fire.

"Indeed, you have to be fearless. Small injuries and bruises are part of net minder’s routine; one gets used to that. But sometimes, it could be severe. In 2012, while playing for Pakistan in Singapore, my knee got badly hurt. I couldn’t move my leg and didn’t play further in the tournament. It seemed my career was over. Luckily, there was no fracture, only soft tissue damage. I was able to stand under the bar after six weeks."

For domestic hockey, she has been with WAPDA for quite some time. "Women hockey in this country owes a lot to WAPDA. The department provides employment to the girls and has a good hockey atmosphere. A vast majority of current Pakistani team are WAPDA girls. I am greatly indebted to Mr Dilawar Bhatti and Ms Sonia Khan, WAPDA team’s coach and manager. Both have had a major contribution to my successes.

"I am also doing Masters in Physical Education as I want to remain associated with sports once my playing days are over."

About her latest achievement, she said: "Even the most optimists were not hopeful. But our camp commandant and head coach Saeed Khan and coach Usman Sheikh gave us a lot of confidence. Saeed Khan boldly told the media, ‘We are not going merely for participation but to achieve something at the AHF Cup’. I am also thankful to the PHF for providing us with the best of facilities at the training camp in Lahore as well as in Bangkok."

All paid off as the girls didn’t disappoint the management’s trust. "It was a surreal experience after the match against Singapore. We made it to the semi-final!  The girls were overwhelmed with emotions and inundated with congratulatory messages from Pakistan. For me, the last few minutes were the most memorable. I was determined not to let the ball pass me and we came out with a 1-1 draw. The Goalkeeper of the Tournament award was icing on the cake.

"Girls have proved that they are talented. All we need is regular international exposure. Pakistani girls can achieve more in future."