KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said here on Friday that the newly raised Olympian Islahuddin-Dr.Shah Hockey Academy will help revive Pakistan hockey in the coming years.

“I am sure that the Academy will attract many youngsters towards our national sport and will provide a much needed boost to the game,” he said while inaugurating the state-of-the-art hostel at the academy recently.

The hostel has been built by the Sports Department, Government of Sindh for training, coaching and players’ grooming for the future.

The CM complimented the services of former Pakistan captain, chief coach and chief selector Islahuddin for his tremendous help and efforts in establishing the academy. “The mission undertaken by Pakistan hockey ace Islahuddin and the platform provided by this academy will be a source of inspiration for the new generation,” said Murad Ali Shah.

The most exciting feature of the inauguration ceremony was an exhibition match held between the CM XI and the Sindh Sports Minister XI. The CM, displaying equally good skills at the game like his administrative skills, scored a hat-trick in the match and led his side to a fine 3-1 victory over the Sindh Sports Minister XI. Islahuddin, Jan Muhammad, Qamar Ibrahim set-up the goals for the CM.

Later, in his speech, the CM said he has always been a big fan of hockey and played it regularly too because Pakistan’s achievements in Olympics, World Cups, and Asian Games etc really inspired him and millions of other Pakistanis. He also spoke to a number of youngsters present in the academy and encouraged them to take up the game.

Head of the Academy Islahuddin later thanked the CM, the Sindh Sports department and all those involved in the construction of the academy. He sought the chief minister’s support in the installation of modern electronic scoreboard and construction of a swimming pool at the academy.

Islah also thanked PHF Chief Brig. (Rtd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, Secretary PHF Olympian Shahbaz Ahmed for their support and for deputing Olympian Saeed Khan to attend the ceremony and said he will do his best in grooming young hockey players for the future..

The hostel has 24 rooms on the first and second floor of the building plus a large dinning area besides a modern gym for over 250 boys and girls in the age group of eight years and over.

The ceremony was attended, among others, by Sindh Sports Minister Sardar Bux Mahar, Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, Olympians Hasan Sardar, Qamar Ibrahim, Sameer Hussain, former cricket captain Javed Miandad, Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla, IT Minister Taimur Khan Talpur, Population, Welfare Minister Mumtaz Hussain Jakhrani, Secretary Sports Niaz Ali Abbasi, SSP Central Irfan Baloch and sports organiser Ghulam Mohammad.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2017