Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE: President, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Brigadier (Retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar has said that the president International Hockey Federation (IHF), Rabindra Batra was responsible for shitting the Olympics qualifying round from Pakistan to Oman after expressing security concerns, as many international teams had been visiting Pakistan for many years.
He was addressing a press conference at PHF Headquarters here flanked with Olympian Rana Mujahid Ali, Secretary General PHF, Parvez Bhandara, Olympian Asif Bajwa, Olympian Shehbaz Ahmed Senior and announced the new National Selection Committee while appreciating the work of the previous National Selection Committee. “Asif Bajwa will be the chairman of the selection committee while Olympian Kaleemullah Khan has been appointed as the chief observer. Olympian Anjum Saeed, Olympian Zeeshan Ashraf, Olympian Kamran Ashraf have also been included in the selection committee. While the manager of the national team, Olympian Shehbaz Ahmed Senior, head coach Roelment Oltamens, Olympian Shafqat Malik, Olympian Kashif Jawad, video analyst Abuzar umrao, while the manager of the five-a-side World Cup, Olympian Waseem Feroze, chief coach Olympian Qamar Ibrahim and Olympian Sheikh will be among the coaches. Usman and Olympian Mohammad Khalid will be the coaches. While Olympian Nasir Ali and International Rana Shafiq have been appointed as coordinators of PHF, “he revealed.
He said that former FIH President Rabindra Batra was responsible for withdrawing the hosting of the Olympics qualifying round while some countries also expressed security concerns after which the hosting of the Olympics qualifying round was withdrawn from us. “We have a good relationship with the Indian Hockey Federation but we should not be compared with them. We get a budget of 65 lakh rupees annually for hockey, while in India the budget of 2.5 billion rupees is allocated for hockey, “he said.
In addition, PHF President Brig. Khalid Sajjad Khokhar paid tribute to Haier owner Javed Afridi for his full support for the betterment of the national game in the 2018 World Cup.He further said that in the same way, all the public and private organizations should play their role along with PHF to bring back hockey to its lost position.
