Hockey, the national game of Pakistan has been drafted back into the 31st National Games, which is starting from December 25th in Peshawar, the provincial metropolis of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The sport was previously
dropped from the National Games by the organisers citing security concerns.
The decision regarding the inclusion of hockey into the Nation Games was taken in the meeting of the Executive Committee of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), under its President, Lieutenant General (Retd.)Syed Arif Hasan on Friday
and decided to include the sport in the national gala.
Syed Aqil Shah, Provincial Minister for Sports in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has said that hockey along with Wushu have been included in the 31st National Games, adding that the two sports displayed wonderful results in the
recently concluded 16th Asian Games.
Wushu (Chinese style Martial Arts) earned a silver medal while the Pakistan hockey team won gold in the Asiad after twenty years.
Provincial Minister for Sports, Syed Aqil Shah stated that the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) keeping in view the legendary performance of the Greenshirts in the last tournament had decided to draft back the national sport
into the National Games. Aqil Shah in a delighted state said that he is very happy over the decision, as it would further promote the sport in the country.
The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) took the decision after facing severe pressure from the Ministry of Sports and the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF). It is pertinent to mention here that numerous meetings between the officials
of the POA, the PHF and the Sports Ministry were held in China during the Asiad and they settled the issues after detailed negotiations.
An official of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) also confirmed that there was lot of pressure on the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) from the PHF particularly from Qasim Zia, the President of the PHF.
Many of the former Olympians expressed pleasures over the decision, saying that it would be a good step for leading the national game back towards betterment. The Pakistan Olympics Association though late in its assay to resurrect
the national game has been prompted to do so following the triumph in the Asiad.
Tags: