LAHORE: Pakistan’s bronze medal finish at the recently concluded Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia has pleased captain Umer Bhutta, but he wants the government to do more to help the national hockey side get better.

Umer said it was encouraging for this team to win the medal, but believed the only way Pakistan could improve their ranking was through playing the top tournaments in the world in continuity and that it would only be possible through “extraordinary” funding.

“We learnt a lot from the tournament in Malaysia and the boys showed a spark and the victory boosted the morale of the boys but to keep it up the team needs continuity to play international hockey,” Umer told Dawn on Saturday.

“I urge Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to provide extraordinary funding for the national hockey team as it is our national sport.”

Umer said it was crucial for Pakistan to participate in the upcoming eight-nation tournament in South Africa to have a chance of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Making it to the final of the tournament will guarantee Pakistan a place in the Olympics and the FIH Pro League, said Umer.

The skipper noted that the Pakistan Hockey Federation and the government had to adopt an effective strategy to life the sport of hockey in the country.

Earlier, PHF secretary Haider Hussain had also appealed to the prime minister for a special grant of Rs 30 million to help the team participate in the eight-nation tournament.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2022