PHF initiatives for hockey revival hailed

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Former International Hockey player, Mubashir Mukhtar, has appreciated the efforts of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for revival of international hockey in Pakistan. 

In this regard he referred to organizing of Nishan-e-Haider Hockey tournament and arrival of the Hall of Fame World Eleven in Pakistan besides holding of Pakistan Super Hockey League next year will lead to complete revival of international matches in the country. 

Talking to PNFS, Mubashir, who is now serving as Director Sports in a private engineering university, was confident that the decisions and steps being taken by the PHF President, Brig (Rtd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, and the Secretary General, Olympian Shahbaz Ahmed, will enable Pakistan to regain its lost stature in the world of hockey. 

He observed that the successful talks held with the officials of PHF's Executive Committee in Dubai, have started yielding positive results and Nishan-e-Haider Hockey Tournament, in which eleven international goalkeepers will be participating, is the first step towards revival of international hockey in Pakistan. 

He said that it will be the first occasion when international hockey players will be participating in a country's domestic event. Similarly he expressed delight with the upcoming planned arrival of World Eleven in November this year will bring activity in the hitherto deserted grounds of Pakistan with the national team playing a three-match series with the World Eleven in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi. 

Thereafter in the next year holding of Pakistan Super Hockey League will not only help explore the new talent but also contribute to complete revival of international hockey in the country.

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AKU wins PMA Defence Day sports gala

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A number of events were organized in connection with the Defence Day of Pakistan across the country with the highlight of the day being the function held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi to pay tribute to the martyrs. 

The Pakistan Marine Academy (PMA) organized the Defence Day Sports Gala at the Women Sports Complex, Gulshan-e-Iqbal in Karachi. 

As many as 14 educational institutions from all over the metropolis took part in five disciplines which included table tennis, badminton, volleyball, basketball and squash. 

Aga Khan University (AKU) emerged as the overall champions of the gala as its athletes came up with impressive all-round performance to run away with the trophy.

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), having enjoyed success in quite a few sporting contests in the recent past, took part in the men’s events of table tennis, badminton, volleyball and basketball. 

The SSUET claimed the runners-up spot in volleyball, bagged third position in table tennis and ended as losing semifinalists in badminton. 

The Deputy Mayor of Karachi, Arshad Vohra, distributed the prizes alongwith the Commandant PMA, Commodore Akbar Naqi, while the SSUET Registrar, Syed Sarfraz Ali, and the SSUET Additional Registrar, Mohammad Aamir, were also present in the ceremony.

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