KARACHI: The Essa Lab Veterans Hockey League that was deferred for a week begins at the Olympian Islahuddin-Dr M. A. Shah hockey academy on Saturday, organisers announced at a press conference at Karachi Gymkhana on Friday.

Inter-school boys and girls for primary and secondary that will run concurrently gets into action from Monday.

Announcing details, former Olympian and chairman national hockey selection committee Islahuddin Siddiqui said 10 teams will feature in the veterans event.

He said two matches of veterans will be played every weekend on Saturday. The duration of each quarter of veterans league has been curtailed from 15 to 10 minutes.

“I’d laid the foundation of veterans hockey in the country in 1992 and the team had won two veterans World Cup at Sydney in 1994 and 2002 at Kuala Lumpur and a tournament at Dubai,” he said.

Islah said teams of 48 educational institutions have been entered in the inter-school competition – 12 each in primary boys and girls and secondary boys and girls.

Divulging details he said this was preceded by his deliberations with top people of education department.

He went on to say that complete kits will be provided to all teams who will be competing in the two events.

He expressed optimism that the event will mark revival of inter-school hockey in the city.

He said Sameer Hussain has been appointed as tournament director and will be assisted by Mubashir Mukhtar and Tariq Khan.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Farhan Essa called for involving the youth in healthy sporting activities.

He also announced that attractice cash prizes will be gven to the winners and runners-up of the competitions.

The registrar of Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology retired Cdre Syed Sarfraz Ali who was also present suggested to launch hockey event at the university level.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2018