April 01, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 23, 1429

LAHORE, March 31: The Pakistan Hockey Federation will soon be writing to games ruling body, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to allocate the 2010 Champions Trophy to Pakistan as compensation for last year’s event that was shifted due to security reasons.

“We have decided to write to the FIH for awarding us the prestigious event which was to be held last December but was shifted to Malaysia after security concerns were raised by the participating team,” said federation secretary Khalid Mahmood while talking to newsmen here on Monday. “We are confident the FIH will compensate us by awarding the 2010 event to us.”

Khalid said Pakistan had suffered direly by the shifting of the Champions Trophy last year, not just in terms of financial loss but in the development of the game.

“Now things are moving in the right direction and foreign teams have expressed willingness to visit Pakistan in many sports,” added Khalid.

“The FIH should look into this important aspect for awarding the 2010 Champions Trophy to Pakistan as a compensation for the previously shifted contest.”

Khalid said Pakistan is planning to hold international tournaments for both senior and junior teams as in recent years such activities were not held owing to various reasons.

The PHF official said the congress to be held in Karachi on April 10 will discuss holding of international hockey events in Pakistan. “PHF President Mir Zafraullah Jamali is very concerned over the situation that was created by the shifting of Champions Trophy and he is ready to make all efforts to get back this event to Pakistan.”

“We are planning four or five-nation tournaments in Pakistan for senior and junior teams this year and are optimistic about holding them successfully,” said Khalid.

“There is some good response from some countries who are willing to send their teams to Pakistan as things are getting better for staging such events.”

He dispelled the impression that Pakistan was not safe for holding mega events. “Tell me which country of the world is today a safe heaven for sporting events. Premier events including the Atlanta Olympics were marred by incidents of bomb blasts so this is no real excuse to opt out of tournaments in any region.”

—APP