LAHORE: Tayyab Ikram, a Macau resident of Pakistani origin, for the first time in the history of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), is set to be re-elected as president of the global governing body unopposed as no other candidate submitted the nomination papers for till the last date Aug 31.

The formal announcement of Tayyab’s re-election will be made by the FIH in Muscat where the elections are scheduled to be held on Nov 9.

Tayyab, who is the first Pakistani, who earned the honour of leading the FIH, is widely regarded as a leading global sports administrator with an illustrious career spanning several major organisations, including the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), International Olympic Committee (IOC), Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and the Asian Hockey Federation, leadership roles in seven Olympic Games, including Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

Currently, Tayyab serves as a member of the Coordination Commission for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, further cementing his standing in the world of sports.

In his first term (2022-24) as FIH president, Tayyab steered the organisation to notable success as the hockey’s global body enhanced its reputation, achieving a significant rise in its ranking among international federations under the Association of Summer Olym­pic International Federations (ASOIF).

The FIH also became a finalist for the prestigious IOC Climate Action Award in 2024, thanks to its pioneering sustainability efforts such as the “FIH Give Back to Forest” initiative.

Tayyab’s vision also included the launch of the “FIH Empowerment and Engagement Strategy,” which focuses on the global development of hockey and includes several projects designed to empower and engage member National Associations.

Tayyab also awarded the Olympics qualifying round for the 2024 Paris Olympics to Pakistan, which was scheduled to be held in January this year.

However, the internal politics within the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) forced the FIH to withdraw the hosting rights from the country.

Meanwhile, Tayyab in a message pledged his support towa­rds reviving Pakistan’s hockey.

“Hockey is Pakistan’s greatest sporting asset which has given the country great recognition all over the world. Today, it is our biggest expectation to see hockey revive in Pakistan, and I am deeply committed to seeing the sport flourish,” Tayyab said.

“My aim is to develop a sustainable model for Pakistan hockey and all other sports that will inspire a new generation of athletes and elevate the country’s profile on the global stage. I firmly believe that with the right support, we can restore Pakistan’s position as a powerhouse in world hockey.”

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2024