Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Chairman of Senate’s Committee on Inter Provincial Harmony Mushahid Ullah Khan has expressed his regret over the deteriorating plight of the country’s national game hockey, and said that Pakistan should do something for the revival of the sport on an international level.

He was attending a briefing here at Parliament House on Monday in which Federal Minister Riaz Pirzada, Secretary Ministry of Inter Provincial Harmony Raja Nadir Ali, Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation Shahbaz Ahmed, Chief Operating Officer of Pakistan Cricket Board Subhan Ahmed and Director General Pakistan Sports Board Akhtar Nawaz Ganjira participated .

Mushahid Ullah said that it was a matter of concern that 39 sports federation were affiliated with the government and only three sports qualified for the Olympics directly. He said that some office bearers of PHF had mistreated international hockey players in the past, due to which the national game had reached its lowest ever level.

On the occasion, DG Sports Board briefed the meeting about the performance and results produced by the Pakistani contingent at the Rio Olympics. He said that the participation of Pakistani players was made through wildcard entries in the Olympic Games and there was never any hope of winning a medal.

He said that Pakistanis were extremely upset at the Pakistan hockey team’s failure to qualify for the Olympics this time, and this had led the government to change the management of PHF. He told the meeting that the football federation was not affiliated with the Sports Board so PSB did not issue any no-objection certificate to the national football team for visiting abroad. He said that the case concerning the Chess Federation taking part in an event abroad without approval of the government was also under review.

Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation Shahbaz Senior apprised the meeting that women’s hockey was totally neglected in the past but the present federation had not only organised the national women tournament but also sent the women’s national team to Thailand to take part in an international event.

He said that Pakistan cannot become world champions again until and unless all stakeholders give proper heed to hockey. He said that hockey was limited to only five cities of the country including Gojra, Pirmahal, Bahawalpur, Lahore and Peshawar.

He said that lack of facilities like Astroturf stadiums and hostel for players is the main hindrance in promoting hockey.