The Inauguration of World Hockey 2013 in Pakistan is really enthusiastic news for the lovers of this sport. PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa made an announcement on Monday regarding International Hockey Federation, (FIH) Congress attended in Monteux, Switzerland.
The announcement was made right after his arrival in the city in which he said
“I have come back with a good news for the country, the hockey community and the lovers of the sport here that the PHF now has a seat in the FIH Executive Committee after winning the Executive Board elections by the biggest margin despite contesting the
Executive Board elections for the first time".
He further told:
“I am glad to report that PHF President Qasim Zia will now represent the country at the FIH for the next four years. But this is not all. The FIH, as an acknowledgment of our development efforts here, has also awarded
Pakistan the first edition of the World Hockey Series to be held here in 2013.”
Besides this he added some other important decisions taken by FIH Executive Board in the favour of Continental Committee. The Board has decided to degenerate the existing FIH Committee so that Continental Committee could take over in a better way. Bajwa
further gave details about more steps taken by PHF for the revival of World Hockey series in Pakistan. He said that they are engaged in all efforts possible for this revival.
“Right now our biggest problem is to find the right windows for inviting them over, which will require manoeuvring around the playing calendars of all the countries while also taking into account suitable weather conditions for them all” he explained.
Bajwa indicated that the World Hockey Series 2013 will change the World Cup and Olympic qualifying system. Under this system, teams will be ranked as top 20, or top 30 teams of the world providing a chance to smaller teams. Teams would be categorized into
different poles in initial rounds according to their performances.
Further telling about the success of Asian Games he said:
“The PHF has used much of its resources to build a strong side for the Asiad. We got the best coach and physio for the boys along with so many other facilities for them in order to ensure a good performance from them at the Asian Games."
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani made an announcement of a 120-million-rupee grant for PHF before World Cup this year, although it is yet to be deposited in PHF account.
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