ISLAMABAD, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The 35-member Pakistani delegation for the Beijing Olympic Games will leave for China on Thursday night, with field hockey as hopes for a Olympic medal.

    The Pakistani Olympic squad comprises 21 players and 14 officials.

    Pakistan is only qualified to compete in the men's field hockey and some of its players are also going to participate in the Beijing Olympics with wild cards.

    Pakistan, the three-time Olympic and four-time world champions, expects the country could retain its past glory in the 12-nation hockey event.

    Pakistan hockey team coach Naveed Alam told Xinhua that the team has never won a gold medal since the 1984 Olympics, and would Pakistan will endeavor to compete a medal, even a gold medal in the Beijing Olympics.

    Pakistan hockey team gained laurels for the country in the 1960,1968 and 1984 Olympics separately, but has seen a slump in the past years.

    Pakistan is placed in group B together with Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, Britain and South Africa. China, Germany, Spain, South Korea, New Zealand and Belgium are in group A.

    Arif Hassan, president of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), said that the Beijing Olympics would be the best in the Olympic history.

Special report: 2008 Olympic Games