PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Friday formally unveiled the official logo and trophy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hockey League-2021, the first-ever such league in the history of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Under the league, matches are scheduled to be started by end of this month. A total of eight teams will participate in the league, including Peshawar Falcons, Malakand Tigers, DI Khan Stallions, Hazara Warriors, Bannu Panthers, Mardan Bears, Tribal Lines and Kohat Eagles.

The first match of the league would be held between Peshawar Falcons and Bannu Panthers.

A ceremony for unveiling the logo and trophy of the hockey league was held here with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan as chief guest. Members provincial cabinet Kamran Bangash and Anwar Zaib, MPA Fakhar Jehan, Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary Asif Bajwa, Pakistan Hockey Team chief coach Khwaja Junaid, squash legend Jan Sher Khan, other prominent players and concerned higher authorities attended the event.

Says event to prove milestone in revival of the national sport

Addressing the ceremony, the chief minister said that holding of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hockey League would prove to be a milestone in revival of the national game of hockey.

He said the government was striving hard to promote sports activities in the province and budget of sport sector had been increased manifold for the purpose.

He said that his government was fully committed to attracting the youth towards sports activities by providing them the best facilities.

He added that revival of the national game was their collective responsibility for which all the stakeholders would have to play their respective role.

He announced establishment of three new hockey turfs in Buner, Swabi and Malakand.

“Four hockey turfs had already been developed in Charsadda, Kohat, DI Khan and Peshawar,” he said and added that work on developing hockey turfs in Bajaur, Nowshera and Abbottabad was in progress. He said that 12 AstroTurfs would be available in the province by end of this fiscal year.

Similarly, he said that sports complexes had been established in all the divisional headquarters of the province.

The chief minister said that the provincial government would fulfill all the requirements for promoting sports activities in the province.

He said that sports facilities in merged districts were being rehabilitated on fast track.

Earlier, Secretary Sports Abid Majeed said that the league matches would be held in DI Khan, Bannu, Kohat, Peshawar, Charsadda and Mardan.

All the facilities, including transport, food, accommodation and kits, would be provided by the government.

He said that winner teams would be given cash prizes, trophy sets, medals and certificates. A cash prize of Rs1 million would be given to the team lifting the trophy.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2021