KARACHI: Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), has welcomed the Rs100 million grant announced by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah for resurrecting the national sport which at present is in dire straits.

“It [the grant] is a great gesture by the chief minister which shows how much sports-loving person he is,” Shahbaz told Dawn.

“It was a highly beneficial meeting with the CM. The grant which he has announced is really a big boost for our hockey,” the former Pakistan captain added, while referring to the meeting the retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar-led PHF delegation held with the chief minister at the CM House here on Monday.

Shahbaz, who led Pakistan to their last World Cup triumph back in 1994 at Sydney, said the PHF delegation during the meeting informed the CM about its plans about promotion and revival of the national sport.

The chief minister took keen interest in the efforts aimed at reviving hockey, Shahbaz said.

“The CM showed particular interest in promoting hockey in the interior of Sindh.”

Keeping in view the interest and support of Murad Ali Shah, Shahbaz said the PHF was handing the National Seniors Hockey Championship and National Schools U-16 Hockey Championship to the Sindh Hockey Association (SHA).

“The National School U-16 Hockey Championship will be held at newly-laid turf in Bakht Ali Dahota, Khairpur from Nov 15 under the auspices of the SHA,” the PHF secretary stated.

Sixteen teams — including four from Punjab, three from Sindh, two each from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and one each from Federal Territory Islamabad, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan will be taking part in the championship.

“History will be made when Sukkur stages the National Seniors Championship from Dec 10 to 25,” Shahbaz said, adding around 25 outfits representing provinces and departmental teams would be in action for the title.

Meanwhile, Shahbaz said the PHF was also monitoring the performance of the federation’s affiliated units, particularly associations.

“We would be allocating national events as per their [associations’] performance and organisational abilities,” the PHF secretary said.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2017