PHF President Qasim Zia indicates Indo-Pak hockey will be series coming soon
In order to regain the past glory in the national game, Pakistan is working to organise a bilateral hockey series with India. The arch-rivals dominated the sport for decades which is why the duo wants to play each other.
Qasim Zia, President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), informed the reporters that it plans to organise a hockey series with India.
He further said that the nation will hear good news very soon as Shahid Malik, Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi, was holding talks with the concerned authorities in relation to the tournament.
Qasim stated that PHF was taking every possible step to promote the national game at the grass-root level.
He further added that PHF’s objective is to revive sports activities in the country and in this regard, the Chinese hockey team is scheduled to pay a visit in the current year.
Commenting on the inclusion of fresh blood in the national team, PHF President said that the youngsters should be given chances to prove their worth against international teams.
For this purposes, the federation tested many youngsters in the maiden version of the Asian Champions Trophy.
He informed that the national team was busy in preparations for the London Olympics, adding the final line-up would be picked up from lot of 25 probable players.
To a query regarding calling back of senior players into the squad, Qasim explained that PHF wanted to give everyone the opportunity to play for the country.
Regardless of their ages, the senior players will be picked-up for the Olympics if they prove their fitness.
The Selection Committee is responsible to finalise the squad for the Olympic Games, as it was monitoring the performance of each player in the camp, Qasim added.
Explaining the performance of the green-shirts in the recently concluded Asian Champions Trophy, he said that victory or defeat is part of the game but the players are delivering their best.
In the concluding remarks, he hoped that the team would bring positive results from the upcoming tour.
He also mentioned PHF’s initiative to launch indoor hockey in the country soon after the Olympic Gala.
He underscored, “We have a plan to introduce indoor hockey after the London 2012 Olympics. Hard surface courts can be arranged and that is the starting point for deciding on indoor hockey. We have set some certain goals and the time is not far when Pakistan
will be again among the best world’s sides”.
Qasim also spoke about the lack of financial resources saying that he had discussed the matter with the concerned authorities.
He urged the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, to release funds at the earliest for the uplift of the sport.
The matches between Pakistan and India are sure to boost the standard of the game along with serving as stepping stones in reviving the country’s long lost glory in the sport of hockey.
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