LAHORE, Dec 17: Pakistan Hockey Federation president Qasim Zia has said sports can play an important role in diffusing tension between Pakistan and India and urged foreign offices of both the countries to play their part in reviving sports ties.

Talking to reporters at the National Hockey Stadium here on Wednesday, Qasim said terrorism had not only affected the sports in the region but it had also destabilised economies of the two countries.

“The terrorists cannot defeat us as we are committed to defuse their plans,” he added.

Qasim said they had positive talks with their Indian counterparts during the recently held FIH meeting in the US.

He hoped the current phase would be temporary and everything would be settled soon.

About his visit to Malaysia, Qasim said he was scheduled to leave for the country on Thursday (today) to attend the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Congress on Saturday.

He added he was optimistic about playing a vital role in making plans for betterment of hockey in Asia.

“We will try our best to get maximum representation in various committees of the AHF. Besides attending the meeting, the PHF delegation will have important talks with the delegates of different countries. We will try to convince them to come to Pakistan,” he maintained.

To a query regarding revival of hockey teams in different departments, Qasim replied he had spoken to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and hoped the prime minister directives would be issued again to banks and multinationals in January to make their hockey teams.

Regarding performance of the women hockey team, he said the federation had provided opportunities to the female players to visit and play abroad irrespective of the results and hoped it would improve their performance.—PPI