Sports Bulletin

Sports Reporter LAHORE (October 18, 2021):-The women hockey teams of Punjab (C), Wapda, Army and Railways toppled their respective opponent teams in the quarterfinals to book a place in the semifinals of First Chief Minister Punjab 5-a-Side National Women Hockey Championship at National Hockey Stadium on Monday. The first semifinal of First Chief Minister Punjab 5-a-Side National Women Hockey Championship will be played between Wapda and Railways women hockey teams at 6.00pm while Punjab (C) and Army will lock horns in the second semifinal at 7.00pm at the same venue. Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh who was the chief guest at the quarterfinals, watched the thrilling quarterfinal encounters at National Hockey Stadium. Director Sports Hafeez Bhatti, PHF Women Hockey Wing General Manager Ms Tanzeela Amir Cheema, Deputy Director Rauf Bajwa and Deputy Director Chand Perveen were also present on this occasion. It is worth-mentioning that Sports Board Punjab is organising the First Chief Minister Punjab 5-a-Side National Women Hockey Championship for the preparation of inaugural FIH Hockey 5s World Cup scheduled to be staged in Oman’s capital city, Muscat. Wapda female players edged out strong HEC team by a narrow margin of 3-2 in the first quarterfinal after a close competition. Wapda’s Hamra Latif exhibited a glorious game and scored two goals through her field effort in the first and 12th minute of the match. Maira Sabir netted the third goal for the winning team. Kalsoom scored two goals for HEC to reduce the deficit. She leveled the score twice in 2nd and 11th minute but failed to do so third time and lost the match by 3-2. The second quarterfinal match was played between Islamabad and Railways women hockey teams. Railways women hockey team showing great resolve toppled Islamabad by 4-1 without much trouble. Arzoo Mansoor struck two goals while skipper Mariyam Hanif and Sarika Sarwar shared the remaining two goals. Islamabad’s only goal was netted by Fozia Talib in the 6th minute through a beautiful field move. Punjab (C) defeated Punjab (W) by a big difference of 7-1 in the third quarterfinal match of the day. Until half-time, they had a 5-0 lead. Sidra Hakim did the major damage scoring three beautiful goals for the winning team. The remaining four goals were scored by Mariam Hussain, Aqsa Ajaz, Saira Murad and Mahak Rasheed. Punjab (W)’s only goal was made by Amara Murad in the 19th minute of the match. The 4th and last quarterfinal of the day was competed between Army and Sindh (W) female hockey teams. The Army team proved too strong for Sindh (W) and won their match quite comfortably by 3-0 margin. Adeeba Afzal, Asma and Iqra Iqbal struck the goals for the victorious team.

SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT Lausanne, Switzerland (October 18, 2021):-The International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Polytan, a member of Sport Group, today announced an extension to their long-standing worldwide hockey partnership through to 2024. In response to the partnership’s recent success delivering climate positive turfs for Tokyo 2020 (made from 60% sugar cane), the extension is designed to ensure hockey becomes a leader in the development of sustainable sports facilities. In line with FIH’s Sustainability Framework for Hockey and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the partnership will focus on the following: People Fundamental for healthy communities, sport needs to be accessible to all. Polytan will support FIH’s drive to make a positive impact on all those involved in hockey by continuing to promote high quality, durable hockey facilities that maximise precious space by withstanding thousands of players on a weekly basis. Alongside the growth of traditional facilities, the partnership will tackle the development of Hockey5s. Hockey5s courts that require less space and appeal to changing recreational habits will allow many more people to enjoy hockey. Additionally, Polytan’s portable turf technology will bring the first-ever FIH Hockey5s World Cup to downtown Oman in 2024, giving local children and adults the opportunity to be thrilled by world-class competition. Planet Protecting the planet so it can support the needs of present and future generations should be a fundamental commitment for all organisations. Polytan is dedicated to working with FIH to ensure hockey activities leave as small a footprint on the planet as possible. The Poligras turfs developed for Tokyo 2020 were created using bio-based materials (60% sugar cane), and were manufactured to strict ISO 14001 environmental management and ISO 9001 management standards. Also, the overall system used at the Tokyo Olympic venue required a third less water than the Rio 2016 venue. The partnership will focus on innovations that deliver CO2 reduction, bio-based green technology, dry elite level turf and end-of-life recycling as well as turf longevity through good maintenance practices. Prosperity FIH’s final sustainability goal is about ensuring hockey continues to grow and prosper. With 46 years working with hockey, the Polytan team is fully behind this goal. As the sole supplier of hockey turf for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and the FIH Hockey World Cups (2022/2023), Polytan will deliver the finest turfs, ensuring that players perform to their best and that hockey looks bright and vibrant. Additionally, Polytan and FIH have successfully created a new category for hockey turf - Temporary Overlay Pitches (TOP) - which provides a cost-effective means of hosting top-level hockey in existing sports stadia and other venues. These Big Stadium hockey events have been successfully delivered for both the FIH Hockey Pro League and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualifiers allowing hockey to break free from the limitations of existing venues to attract record crowds. As hockey fans return to big events, the TOP systems will bring the sport to new locations and audiences, creating thrilling experiences for the players and further growing the game. Thierry Weil, CEO, FIH: “We are delighted that our trusted partner Polytan, which continues to innovate and invest in hockey, has extended its partnership with FIH. Over the years Polytan has repeatedly delivered world-class facilities for the Olympics and Hockey World Cups. They are leaders in sustainable sports surfaces and construction, so we are very happy to have their support in hockey’s sustainable future, in particular for producing water-free elite pitches in the years to come.” Frank Dittrich, CEO, Sport Group: “Sustainability is key in the development of all our products. Sport Group, with our investment in green technology, is transforming the future of sports surfaces. Our long-term partnership with the FIH allows us to invest in hockey turf innovations that will help the game be a leader in sustainable sport.” Stephen Niven, CEO Polytan Asia Pacific: “Our relationship with hockey began in 1976 with the first turf at the Montreal Olympics. Since then, Sport Group, through Polytan and AstroTurf, has remained committed to the global game. It is a pleasure to be part of the sport; hockey is exciting, welcoming and is equally amazing for men and women, girls and boys. Shifting our partnership focus to sustainability will further progress the sport and our Poligras hockey turfs will continue to be the leader in player and environmental performance.”

SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT Brussels (October 18, 2021):-Belgium's women's and men's teams made it a weekend to remember for their home supporters, with both teams claiming second FIH Hockey Pro League victories over Germany in two pulsating matches on Sunday in Brussels. It was the women's teams who were in action first, with Belgium's Red Panthers claiming their second win in two days over Die Danas. Stephanie Vanden Borre earned her second Player of the Match award of the weekend thanks to a superb penalty corner double that sent Belgium on their way to victory, finding the bottom left corner with two near identical strikes in the 10th and 21st minutes respectively. The home favourites were guilty of wastefulness in front of goal and could easily have been out of sight had they taken their numerous chances, with Germany pulling themselves back into the contest thanks to a goal on debut from Stine Kurz, who found the back of the Belgian net with a penalty corner drag-flick five minutes before the end of the third quarter. Germany went for broke in the final minutes of the match, replacing their goalkeeper with an outfield player in a bid to find an equaliser. However, it was Belgium who benefitted the always risky tactic, with France De Mot showing fine skills to evade numerous German tackles before flicking into an unguarded goal from a narrow angle to delight the home fans. "It is not every year you get six points against Germany, so we are very happy", said Vanden Borre in the post-match interview for broadcast. "[Wednesday's defeat against the Netherlands] was a game that we learned a lot from, and today we proved that we can do it against a really good team so we are happy with our six points." Belgium's men came into Sunday's match on the back of a 6-1 victory over Germany, a score-line that perhaps did not reflect the true nature of an excellent contest. The second game was another thriller, with Germany striking early thanks to Niklas Wellen's superb close range penalty corner deflection before Belgium turned the match on its head with three goals in just four minutes either side of the quarter-time break. Sebastien Dockier scored two wonderful team goals, with Tanguy Cosyns also on target as the reigning Olympic, World and FIH Hockey Pro League champions showed exactly why they are currently the best men's team on the planet. Lucas Windfeder's penalty corner drag-flick ahead of half-time kept Germany within touching distance, although Thibeau Stockbroekx put the Belgians into a 4-2 lead after fine work from the exceptional Victor Wegnez. Again Die Honamas hit back, with Malte Hellwig netting at the end of the third quarter to set up a thrilling final 15 minutes. Eventually though, it was the home favourites who prevailed, with Nicolas de Kerpel completing a 5-3 score-line from close range after another wonderful exchange of passes from the Tokyo 2020 gold medallists. "If you look at the game yesterday, it was 6-1 of course, but our goalie had an amazing game and it could have been 6-4 or 6-5", said Belgium midfielder Victor Wegnez, who created two goals in the second game to be named Player of the Match. "Today I think they were more efficient in front of goal. We struggled a little bit to enter the game, but then we started to put our game in place and deserved the win." Outgoing Germany head coach Kais Al Saadi, taking charge of the team for the very last time, said: "It was much better than yesterday. We were much more competitive. The boys tried everything they could to get a good result against the Olympic champions. I'm very proud of the team and the two years, what we have accomplished together. It was always good fun, and I'm very disappointed to not see them in the future, but they have a bright one, so [I have] no worries about it." The FIH Hockey Pro League Season 3 action resumes on Wednesday 10 November with the Netherlands women taking on Belgium in Amsterdam for the second time, with the Dutch running out 2-0 winners in the first encounter on Wednesday 13 October. To see the complete FIH Hockey Pro League match schedule, please click here. Keep up to date with all the latest news on the FIH Hockey Pro League via the Watch.Hockey app, event website and through FIH social media channels - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. FIH Hockey Pro League Sunday 17 October 2021 – Brussels (BEL) Women Belgium 3, Germany 1 [Match 2 of 2] Player of the Match: Stephanie Vanden Borre (BEL) Umpires: Hannah Harrison (ENG), Alison Keogh (IRL) and Jonas van 't Hek (NED – Video) Men Belgium 5, Germany 3 [Match 2 of 2] Player of the Match: Victor Wegnez (BEL) Umpires: Jonas van 't Hek (NED), Dan Barstow (ENG) and Alison Keogh (IRL – Video)

Sports Reporter LAHORE (October 17, 2021): Punjab Colours outplayed Sindh Whites 5-0 in a league round match of the First Chief Minister Punjab 5-a-Side National Women’s Hockey Championship at National Hockey Stadium on Sunday. Punjab Colours’ Sidra Hakeem, who scored three goals, was the main goal-scorer for the triumphant team. The remaining two goals were scored by Humera Rafi and Mahak Rasheed. Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh along with Director Sports Hafeez Bhatti, PHF Women Hockey Wing General Manager Tanzeela Amir Cheema and Deputy Director Chand Perveen also witnessed the exciting matches at National Hockey Stadium. Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh was warmly received by hockey officials upon reaching the National Hockey Stadium. He was also introduced with the women hockey players and team officials and also had group photographs with them on this occasion. It is worth-mentioning that Sports Board Punjab is organising the First Chief Minister Punjab 5-a-Side National Women Hockey Championship for the preparation of inaugural FIH Hockey 5s World Cup scheduled to be staged in Oman’s capital city, Muscat. In the next thrilling encounter, Gilgit Baltistan (GB) women hockey team scripted an upset victory against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (W) when they shocked their opponents by a thin margin of 3-2. Gilgit Baltistan women hockey team began their match in aggressive style and took 3-0 lead till the half time. Abida showed wonderful ball control and scored two beautiful field goals for the winning team while the third goal was scored by Kalsoom through her field effort. In the second half, KPK (W) team bounced back and scored two goals through Reshma in 11th and 18th minute of the game but they could not change the fate of the match. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (C) defeated Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) by 7-1 in the next match. Areeba Yaqoob of KPK (C) was in superb form in the match and struck all the seven goals for the victorious team. Aksha scored the only goal for the losing AJK team. The next match of the day was proved to be a one-sided affair in which Wapda rout Sindh (C) by a huge difference of 13-0. Afsheen Noreen netted five goals, Sana Allah Ditta three and Maira Sabir struck two goals while Rimsha Illyas, Kalsoom and Hamra Latif contributed one goal each for the winning team. Army women hockey team thrashed Punjab (W) by 5-1 in the 5th match of the day. Iqra Iqbal, Fozia Naz, Sana Naz, Adeeba Afzal and Asma scored one goal each for Army team. Punjab (W)’s solitary goal was netted by Fatima Ghaffar through a field effort. The last match of the day was played between Railways and HEC. Both the teams scored two goals each. HEC’s Nisha struck both goals of her team demonstrating excellent goal-scoring prowess. Sarika Sarwar and Arzoo Mansoor were goal-scorers of Railways women hockey team.  

Sports Bulletin Report BRUSSELS (October 17, 2021):-A sell-out crowd witnessed Belgium’s women and men both claim FIH Hockey Pro League victories over the national teams of Germany on a jubilant day in Brussels, with fans flocking in their thousands to witness the teams in action for the first time since the Red Lions became Olympic champions at Tokyo 2020. It was an occasion that more than lived up to the hype, with Belgium’s men storming to a sensational 6-1 triumph over Die Honamas in a match played at a searing pace and packed with skill.  The Red Lions win came shortly after the Red Panthers, Belgium’s national women’s team, claimed a narrow but deserved triumph over Die Danas. A wonderful penalty corner drag-flick from rising superstar Ambre Ballenghien late in the game settled the contest, helping the team to bounce back from Wednesday’s opening day defeat against the Netherlands in Amsterdam. Live-wire striker Ballenghien – who forced Germany goalkeeper Noelle Rother into a stunning stick save early in the contest – sent a glorious flick into the top left corner of the net with seven minutes of the match remaining, delighting a passion-fuelled sell-out crowd at Brussels’ Royal Uccle Sport stadium in a match that had been delayed by 90 minutes due to technical issues.  While Germany had some good chances of their own, Belgium were well worth the three points and will be looking to repeat the trick when the two teams do battle again on Sunday. “I think we had a lot of occasions to score and to finally put it in, it was a delivery for all the team”, said Belgium’s match-winner Ballenghien, who was named Player of the Match. “I think we really deserved the win as today we were the better team on the field, so we are very happy with the win.” Germany head coach Xavier Reckinger – who represented Belgium’s men on the international stage on 326 occasions – said: “I think we had a few chances, and the girls did exactly what we wanted to do. We had good chances to put them away, but they dominated, especially on their counter. I’m quite pleased with the performance from all the players, but we do have to improve some stuff. There were some things which, for me, are not good enough at the international level, but we’ll work on those and be ready for tomorrow.” It was a special day for Belgium’s Louise Versavel, who played her 200th senior international match. The men’s match was an absolute thriller, with Germany’s inexperienced team very much taking the game to their illustrious opponents from the start. Die Honamas came closest to opening the scoring in the early stages when a wonderful deflection from Malte Hellwig clipped the outside of the Belgian post, with the teams going into the quarter-time break with the deadlock unbroken. Belgium stepped up their game in the second quarter, establishing a 2-0 lead thanks field goals from Sebastien Dockier and Cedric Charlier before William Ghislain got in on the act in the third period, finishing off a superb team move to put Belgium – the reigning Olympic, World and FIH Hockey Pro League champions – into a lead that they never looked likely to lose. Nicolas De Kerpel scored the goal of the game with a brilliant lob over Germany goalkeeper Alexander Stadler in the fourth quarter before Germany’s Mario Schachner reduced the deficit with six minutes remaining. However, a second for De Kerpel and a penalty corner deflection from ageless midfielder John-John Dohmen completed an emphatic score-line for the title holders, who were presented with the trophy for the 2020-21 season ahead of the contest. The tophy was received by retired attacker and former captain Thomas Briels, much to the delight of the home fans. “We are very happy to be back here in Belgium playing in front of our home crowd”, said Belgium’s Arthur De Sloover, who was named Player of the Match. “It was the first game after the Olympics and we really wanted to show them that we still want to win every game, so we are very happy with the performance today.” Germany goalkeeper Alexander Stadler said: “We played with a mixed team, players who were at the Olympics and some new players. We gave it a great team effort and it was a great experience. In the first half we were a bit unlucky with the two goals. In the second half we made too many mistakes in dangerous areas and they took their counters, while we didn’t’ take our chances on the counters, which was the difference today.”  The FIH Hockey Pro League Season 3 action continues on Sunday when the international teams of Belgium and Germany take to the field for their second meetings in Brussels. To see the complete FIH Hockey Pro League match schedule, please click here. Keep up to date with all the latest news on the FIH Hockey Pro League via the Watch.Hockey app, event website and through FIH social media channels - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. FIH Hockey Pro League Saturday 16 October 2021 – Brussels (BEL) Women Belgium 1, Germany 0 [Match 1 of 2] Player of the Match: Ambre Ballenghien (BEL) Umpires: Hannah Harrison (ENG), Alison Keogh (IRL) and Dan Barstow (ENG – Video) Men Belgium 6, Germany 1 [Match 1 of 2] Player of the Match: Arthur de Sloover (BEL) Umpires: Dan Barstow (ENG), Jonas van ‘t Hek (NED) and Hannah Harrison (ENG – Video)

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (October 14, 2021):-Reigning women’s Olympic, World and European champions the Netherlands got their FIH Hockey Pro League title defence off to a solid start, defeating neighbouring Belgium 2-0 in the competition curtain raiser in front of a big crowd at Amsterdam’s magnificent Wagener Stadium. The Oranje – who were presented with their trophy for winning the 2020-21 FIH Hockey Pro League season ahead of the contest – made a sensational start to the new season when star attacker Lidewij Welten crashed home a fierce open play strike after just 17 seconds of the contest, thrilling the home fans who had flocked to see their national team for the first time since winning gold at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in August. Belgium’s Red Panthers recovered well from that early blow and made life difficult for their illustrious opponents, with large spells of the game taking place in midfield as the two lowland nations battled for possession and superiority. It was certainly scrappy at times, with both sides guilty of unforced errors. While goal-scoring opportunities were few and far between, a 1-0 score-line meant that Belgium – coached by Dutchman Raoul Ehren, an individual with a near peerless club coaching record in the Netherlands and who had guided the Red Panthers to European bronze in this very stadium earlier this year – were always in with a chance of taking something away from this clash. However, that all changed nine minutes from time when Freeke Moes burst through the Belgian defensive line and past the goalkeeper before firing home from an acute angle, much to the delight of the home fans. It was a goal that wrapped up all three points for the home favourites, giving the double Pro League champions the start that they would have wanted as they bid to secure a hat-trick of titles. “It was amazing, the public here and playing with the Olympians in the team”, said Netherlands debutant Marente Barentsen, who was named Player of the Match. “I was a bit nervous, but after the first quarter it got a bit better and I forgot it was my debut, so tried to keep playing and keep enjoying it.” On whether she thought it was the start of a new era, Barentsen said: “I hope so. I wanted to make a good impression, which is what I am supposed to do. I hope I did it.” Reflecting on the result and conceding so early in the contest, Belgium’s Stephanie Vanden Borre said: “We were not as awake as we should have been. The first thing we thought was, now we have to wake up. We know they are the best in the world so we were ready to fight and do what we want to do. We want to play better every game. I think after the first 15 seconds, we had a good game.” 

Ali Ahmed LAHORE (October 13, 2021):-The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Wednesday asked Emad Shakeel Butt (National Bank), Faisal Qadir (National Bank) and Zakirullah (Navy) to join national hockey training camp to prepare for the Asian Champions Trophy, which will be held from October 21 at the National Hockey Stadium Lahore. ? According to details, the Pakistan Hockey Federation has invited 29 players to the National Senior Hockey Training Camp to form and prepare the national hockey team to participate in the Asian Champions Trophy to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from December 14 to 22. ?The camp will be held from October 21 at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore. The players in the camp have been instructed to report to the camp commandant and head coach National Hockey Team Olympian Khawaja Junaid on October 21 along with their departmental NOC, six-month valid passport, 12 passport size photographs. Among the 29 players invited by Pakistan Hockey Federation to the National Hockey Training Camp are Muneeb-ur-Rehman (Goalkeeper, Sui Southern Gas), Akmal Hussain (Goalkeeper, WAPDA), Defenders: Mubashir Ali (WAPDA), Abu Bakar Mahmood (National Bank), Tazeem Al Hassan (Mari Petroleum), Rizwan Ali (WAPDA), Asif Hanif (Mari Petroleum), Amjad Ali Khan (WAPDA), Osama Bashir (Air Force), Junaid Kamal (National Bank), Faizan (National Bank), Ammad Shakeel Butt (National Bank), Mohammad Faisal Qadir (National Bank) Forwards: Umar Bhatta (WAPDA), Ali Shan (Sui Southern Gas), Mohammad Azfar Yaqub (Sui Southern Gas), Rana Sohail Riaz (Sui Southern Gas), Ejaz Ahmed (WAPDA), Ahmed Nadeem (MPCL), Hamza Waheed (Air Force), Salman Razzaq (WAPDA), Naveed Alam (Sui Southern Gas), Obaidullah (Sindh, WAPDA), Nohaiz Zahid Malik (National Bank), Afraz (Mari Petroleum), Junaid Manzoor (National Bank), Zain Ijaz (Agricultural Development Bank), Zakaria Hayat (Air Force) and Zakir Ullah (Navy) Camp Commandant will be Head Coach , National Hockey Team Olympian Khawaja Junaid while Coaches Olympians Syed Sameer Hussain (Air Force) and Ajmal Khan Lodhi International (Sialkot), Nadeem Khan Lodhi (Sialkot) Video Analyst and Abid Amin (Lahore) as Physical Trainer Will carry out their professional responsibilities in the training camp

Sports Reporter LAHORE (October 12, 2021):-Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Tuesday  invited 26 national players for training camp, which will be kicked off from October 21 at National Hockey Stadium Lahore under the control of camp commandant, Head Coach Olympian Kawaja Junaid aiming to prepare the team for Asian Champions Trophy. According to details, the Pakistan Hockey Federation has invited 26 players to the National Senior Hockey Training Camp to form and prepare the national hockey team to participate in the Asian Champions Trophy to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from December 14 to 22. ?The camp will start from October 21 at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore. The players in the camp have been instructed to report to the camp commandant and head coach National Hockey Team Olympian Khawaja Junaid on October 21 along with their departmental NOC, six-month valid passport, 12 passport size photographs. Names of players: Muneeb-ur-Rehman (Goalkeeper, Sui Southern Gas), Akmal Hussain (Goalkeeper, WAPDA), Defenders: Mubashir Ali (WAPDA), Abu Bakar Mahmood (National Bank), Tazeem Al Hassan (Mari Petroleum), Rizwan Ali (WAPDA), Asif Hanif (Mari Petroleum), Amjad Ali Khan (WAPDA), Osama Bashir (Air Force), Junaid Kamal (National Bank), Faizan (National Bank), Forwards: Umar Bhatta (WAPDA), Ali Shan (Sui Southern Gas), M. Azfar Yaqub (Sui Southern Gas), Rana Sohail Riaz (Sui Southern Gas), Ejaz Ahmed (WAPDA), Ahmed Nadeem (National Bank), Hamza Waheed (Air Force), Salman Razzaq (WAPDA), Naveed Alam (Sui Southern Gas), Obaidullah (Sindh, WAPDA), Nohaiz Zahid Malik (National Bank), Afraz (Mari Petroleum), Junaid Manzoor (National Bank), Zain Ijaz (Agricultural Development Bank) and Zakaria Hayat (Air Force). Camp Commandant will be Head Coach , National Hockey Team Olympian Khawaja Junaid while Coaches Olympians Syed Sameer Hussain (Air Force) and Ajmal Khan Lodhi International (Sialkot), Nadeem Khan Lodhi (Sialkot) Video Analyst and Abid Amin (Lahore) as Physical Trainer Will carry out their professional responsibilities in the training camp

FIH Report Lausanne Switzerland (October 12, 2021):-Chief Executive of International Hockey Federation (FIH) Thierry Weil says in an interview: “We will work on the future Stars Awards with the global hockey community” Q: Were you expecting so much controversy about the results of the FIH Hockey Stars Awards? Answer: If, in an Olympic year, the Gold medallists don’t win any Award and another nation gets all of them, it is clear that this won’t come across well! Therefore, I of course do understand the disappointment and also, to some extent, the anger, especially of the teams concerned. At the same time, I want to congratulate the winners! They were all nominated by an expert committee – made of FIH, FIH Athletes Committee and high performance representatives – and therefore were as much entitled as the others to win! And both Indian teams had a fantastic performance at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020! I assume that the natural joy which they should rightly feel by winning such an Award may have been altered by all this, and that is not nice either. Q; Do you think the current voting process is right? Answer: I’m not sure if there is any ideal process, to be honest. But this process – as long as it is implemented by everybody – should work. It is very similar to what is applied successfully by other organisations. It gives the chance to major hockey stakeholders – teams, players, coaches, fans and media – to cast a vote for the most important yearly awards in global hockey, while a higher weight is given to national team coaches and captains. Q; Was it a new process this time? Answer: No, it was pretty much the same as last time. There were two differences. Firstly, we made it compulsory for the National Associations that their votes should come from their national team coaches and captains; I believe that everybody will agree that this was the right thing to do in order to increase the technical legitimacy of the vote. Secondly, the voting process for the coaches was the same as the one for the athletes this time (while the FIH Coach of the Year Award was determined by an FIH panel previously). Q: Was this vote transparent enough? Shouldn’t you publish the individual votes, at least for the National Associations and media? Answer: Before the vote, we explained in detail the voting process as well as the weight given to the various voting groups. And after the vote, we published all results, from every voting group and for all nominees. Revealing who voted for whom is a question which we should have a look at. Will it bring something or not, I can’t tell at this stage. But we should not exclude any option before examining them. Q: Is it really a good idea to have fans voting for an Award which is meant to define the best athletes and coaches from a technical perspective? Answer:  Our overall strategy at FIH is to put athletes and fans at the centre of everything we do. So, it is essential to give fans an option to express their views. If in this regard the current process is the right one or not, is something we will need to analyse of course. But clearly we need to involve the fans one way or the other. After all, thanks to this vote, we will have the opportunity to engage with almost 300’000 fans! This is not only good for India – where most of these fans are coming from – but for the growth of our sport overall and therefore the whole hockey community! Also, as we’ve mentioned on the day of the vote, all winning athletes have topped the standings in each of the three voting groups (National Associations / Fans and Players / Media). In other words, even if fans wouldn’t have voted, the winning athletes would have been the same. Q: How do you explain that almost half of the National Associations (NAs) did not take the opportunity to vote? Answer:  I have to admit that I have no answer to this yet. Maybe we haven’t been clear enough? But we did send reminders to the NAs before the end of the vote. And I have personally contacted several members of the hockey community to warn them about this situation, and I know they were active. But still, many National Associations did not cast their vote. Clearly this had by far the biggest impact on the results. If you set up a jury but half of this jury doesn’t vote, how can you expect that people will unanimously accept the results? In our analysis, we will have to establish why this situation happened. Q; Will the process remain the same in the future? Answer:  I can’t answer this question before we do a thorough analysis. But I can tell you that we will work on the future Stars Awards with the global hockey community. We will engage with many stakeholders to come up with a process which receives the support of most, and then go with it for next year. These Awards are here to promote hockey, athletes and coaches. It isn’t good for anybody if they lead to controversy. I’ve already engaged with a few and will continue to do so. We will most likely create a Task Force to look at this. And I’m absolutely convinced that we will find a compromise which will ensure that the global hockey community celebrates these Awards in the future!

Sports Reporter LAHORE (October 12, 2021):-Director General, Sports Board Punjab (SBP) Adnan Arshad Aulakh has said that Sports Board Punjab and South Punjab Education Department would jointly organizing the School Hockey League in Bahawalpur. Aulakh also witnessed exciting matches of School Hockey League and praised the potential of budding hockey players. Secretary Education South Punjab Dr Ehtisham Anwar, Divisional Sports Officer Bahawalpur Maqsood ul Hasan, Olympian Samiullah and other top officials were also present on this occasion. Earlier, Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti and Punjab Minister for School Education Dr Murad Raas inaugurated the School Hockey League on Sunday. Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh, Secretary Education South Punjab Dr Ehtisham Anwar, Divisional Sports Officer Bahawalpur Maqsood ul Hasan Javed and other top officials were also present on this occasion.  While talking on this occasion as a chief guest Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh informed that as many as 12 male and female teams from 11 districts (2 male and female teams from Bahawalpur) of South Punjab are taking part in the School Hockey League. “There is plenty of hockey talent in South Punjab and this tournament will play a significant role in the promotion of hockey among the young generation especially in this part of the province”. Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh further said that Sports Board Punjab will also organize South Punjab Games in near future. “The male and female players from all districts of South Punjab will demonstrate their sports talent in these games,” he added. Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh said that Sports Board Punjab is taking stringent measures for the growth of hockey in the province. “We are organizing regular hockey events to provide sufficient playing opportunities to our talented male and female hockey players of the province”. Elaborating further Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh said First Chief Minister Punjab 5-a-Side National Women Hockey Championship is our next major hockey event which is being played at National Hockey Stadium from October 15-20, 2021. “The First Chief Minister Punjab 5-a-Side National Women Hockey Championship will provide a suitable platform to emerging female hockey players of the country to demonstrate their hockey potential in a competitive environment”. Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh also presided over an important meeting of Bahawalpur at E-Library. The meeting was attended by all districts and tehsil sports officers and coaches. Divisional Sports Officer Bahawalpur Maqsood ul Hasan Javed and PMU officers gave a detailed briefing to DG Sports Punjab. Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh visited various sports venues including Girls Cricket Stadium, Dring Cricket Stadium Bahawalpur E-Library. He inspected the work at under-construction sports projects and issued strict directions to complete the sports projects of this region as early as possible.