Published on, Aug. 23 -- August 23, 2025 12:35 AM

Pakistan made history on Thursday in Florida when, against the odds, with borrowed ice time and shoestring resources, the national ice hockey team lifted the Amerigol LATAM Cup, defeating seasoned sides and carving its name into a sport most Pakistanis barely knew we played. More than a trophy, it was a statement that when given even a sliver of opportunity, Pakistani athletes can reach heights the state has long denied them. Their success shows what is possible without institutional scaffolding and simultaneously exposes the ruinous neglect of other sports.

Once upon a time, Pakistan's green shirts ruled the hockey field. Four World Cups and three Olympic golds, the sport was a symbol o...