KARACHI: A new blue desso turf with pink outline that has been laid at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium will be formally inaugurated when the 62nd National Hockey Championship gets into action on Friday.

Imported from Holland at a cost of Rs57.1 million, it is the second blue synthetic turf that has been laid in the city the other being at Islahuddin-Dr M. A. Shah Academy. Sindh government has borne cost of both the turfs.

It may be mentioned that this is the fourth synthetic pitch that has been laid at the HCP during the last 36 years. The first was laid in 1979 ahead of the second PIA Champions Trophy that took place the following year.

The stadium that was in dilapidated condition since long has been refurbished and gives a fascinating look. Besides replacing the worn out turf, the entrance, main enclosure and railings have been painted. Damaged chairs have also been replaced by new.

“An RO plant has been commissioned to generate 30,000 gallon water per day for watering the turf,” former Olympian and assistant director Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Karachi camp office Iftikhar Syed told Dawn on Tuesday.

He added that apart from the turf, entire renovation and RO plant cost has been borne by the PHF.

He said floodlights have also been repaired and matches from quarter-finals onwards will be played under lights.

As many as 20 teams are set to vie for honours in the country’s premier hockey championship which concludes on Jan 10.

According to the PHF official, an exhibition match between former Olympians and internationals will mark the inauguration of the event.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah will formally inaugurate the national championship.

The PHF has appointed Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) secretary Farooq Khan as organising secretary and former Olympian Qamar Ibrahim as the technical delegate.

The remaining part of the stadium appears very dirty and also needs immediate repairs and whitewash, a visit to the HCP Stadium by this correspondent reveals.

Meanwhile, veteran international athlete and honorary coach Mohammad Talib, who runs Athletic Fitness School (AFS) at the HCP for almost the last four decades, has appealed to the PHF to restore the track around the hockey field.

“All stadia across the world are built multi-purpose and a great injustice has been done with the local athletes by cementing a small portion in front of the main enclosure,” he told Dawn.

He asked the Sindh government to lay a tartan track by allocating budget in the next fiscal year after restoring it in its original position.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2015