Sports Bulletin

WAPDA overcome host team Mari Petroleum Company Limited 3-2 in finalAbdul Jabbar FaisalRAWALPINDI: Pakistan WAPDA overcame host team Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) 3-2 in the final of the 2nd Mari Petroleum Azdi Cup Hockey Tournament 2023 here at Lieutenant General Ashfaq Nadeem Hockey Stadium Ayub Park.Umar Bhatta, Tossiq Arshad, and Salman Razzak scored goal for WAPDA while Mohammad Sufyan Khan and Arbaaz Ahmed scored one goal each for Mari Petroleum. Yasir Khursheed International and Ameer Hamza performed the duties of umpiring while Asad Abbas and Irfan Tahir were reserve umpires. Technical Officials were Murtaza Bhatti, Asif Baig, Hamza Tufail, Gulfam Khokhar, Akhtar Ali and Rafiqur Rahman performed the responsibilities of judges well. At the end of the final match, the chief guest, Chairman Fuji Group of Companies, Waqar Ahmad Malik awarded the Pakistan WAPDA winning trophy along with prize money Rs 1.5 million. On this occasion, Secretary General Pakistan Hockey Federation Syed Haider Hussain, Syeda Shehla Raza, Tournament Director Olympian Nasir Ali, Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh, Olympian Naeem Akhtar, Olympian Saeed Khan, Olympian Rahim Khan, Olympian Danish Kaleem, Rana Shafiq International, Tournament Organizing Secretary Col. Mohammad Yamin, Assistant Tournament Director Major Tariq Wark, Assistant Tournament Director Raja Shuja Iqbal, Umpires Manager Zulfiqar Hussain, Assistant Umpires Manager Kamran Shah, Assistant Umpires Manager Mubarak Ali, and Assistant Media Coordinator Mohammad Hafeez were present.

Federation makes a change in the selection Committee, Mohammad Shafiq to replace Shakil AbbasiAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) invited 36 players from different departments for the training camp for the upcoming Asian Games 2023, which will be rolled into action from August 21 (Monday) here at Nasser Bunda Hockey Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex under the supervision of Shahnaz Sheikh. The Asian Games will be held from September 23 to October 8 in Hangzhou, China. According to the media department of PHF, all players have been advised to report to the camp commandant and head coach, Olympian Shahnaz Shaikh, on August 21st before 4 pm. Also, PHF designated Rana Mohammad Shafiq, a former gold medalist in the World Hockey Cup, as a member of the National Hockey Selection Committee after the approval of President PHF, Brig (Retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar. Rana Mohammad Shafiq, who clinched gold medals in the 1978 Asian Games and the 1978 World Cup, participated in 33 international matches. Rana Mohammad Shafiq has also served various roles within the national hockey teams, including manager, coach, selector, and camp commandant. Rana Mohammad Shafiq will replace Olympian Shakeel Abbasi.Also, PHF finalized the team management, as the president PHF Khalid Sajjad Khokhar nominated Olympian Shahnaz Shaikh (Head Coach/Camp Commandant), Olympian Dilawar Hussain, Olympian Shakeel Abbasi (coaches), and Amjad Ali (goalkeeper coach). Saeed Khan will be team manager while Brigadier Mohammad Yusuf Baig will be team doctor. Rana Nasrullah Khan's appointment has been as a physical trainer. Players included are as follows:Names of players: Akmal Hussain (WAPDA), Abdullah Ishtiaq Khan (MPCL), Waqar Ahmed (WAPDA), Ali Raza (Punjab), Abdullah Sheikh (Sindh), Mohammad Abdullah (MPCL), Arbaaz Ahmed (MPCL), Mohammad Sufyan Khan (KPK), Aqeel Ahmed (WAPDA), Mohammad Bilal Aslam (Customs), Osama Bashir (PAF), Mohammad Murtaza Yaqoob (WAPDA), Arbaaz Ayaz (Sindh), Ehtisham Aslam (MPCL), Mohammad Baqir (Punjab), Mohammad Nadeem Khan (KPK), Mohammad Imran (PAF), Syed Shahbaz Haider (Navy), Rana Abdul Waheed (WAPDA), Mohammad Imad (Customs), Mohammad Afraz (MPCL), Roman Khan (WAPDA), Arshad Liaquat (MPCL), Abdul Qayyum (Customs), Abdul Rahman (WAPDA), Waqar Ali (MPCL), Mohammad Arsalan (Punjab), Mohammad Umar Bhatta (WAPDA), Abdul Hanan Shahid (WAPDA), Mohammad Shahzeb Khan (Customs), Abdul Wahab (Sindh), Zakaria Hayat (Navy), Basharat Ali (Navy), Rana Waleed (Punjab), Hamza Fayyaz (Punjab), Abdul Rahman (PAF). 

Mari Petroleum Company Limited and Pakistan Navy lock horns till match ends 3-3Abdul Jabbar FaisalRAWALPINDI: Pakistan WAPDA and Army Colours registers comprehensive victories while Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL), and Pakistan Navy locked horns till the final whistle on the second day of the 2nd Mari Petroleum Azadi Cup Hockey Tournament 2023 at Lt General Retired Ashfaq Nadeem Hockey Stadium Ayub Park Rawalpindi on Wednesday.In the first match of the day, Pakistan WAPDA stunned Pakistan Air Force (PAF) 7-1, as Taufiq Arshad scored 2 goals while Ejaz Ahmed, Abdul Rehman, Ali Ejaz, Ahmed Khan, and Hanan Shahid directed the ball in the goalpost once. Mohsin Hasan scored the only goal for Pakistan Air Force.The second match was played between Army Colours and Punjab Rangers. Pakistan Army exhibited a remarkable game and thrashed opponents 5-1. Owais Zahid scored 2 goals while Muzamil, Ghazanfar and Wasim Akram scored one goal each for Army Colours. Mohammad Baqir scored the single goal for Punjab Rangers.In the third match, host team of the tournament, Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) and Pakistan Navy scored each three goals in four quarters, as the players of both sides displayed top quality hockey and amused a handful hockey lovers with the game skills. Arbaaz Ahmed, Umeer Sattar and Arshad Liaquat scored one goal each for Mari Petroleum while Yasir Anwar, Hammad Ali and Mohammad Saber scored one goal each for Pakistan Navy. The match ended 3-3.On this occasion, Tournament Director Olympian Nasir Ali, Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh, Tournament Organizing Secretary Colonel Mohammad Yameen, Assistant Tournament Director Major Tariq Wark, Assistant Tournament Director Raja Shuja Iqbal, Umpires Manager Zulfikar Hussain, Assistant Umpires Manager Kamran Shah, Assistant Umpires Manager Mubarak Ali. , Event Media Coordinator Zulfikar Baig, and Assistant Media Coordinator Mohammad Hafeez were present in the stadium.Thursday’s Fixtures:Pakistan Police vs Army WhitesPakistan WAPDA vs Punjab RangersPakistan Air Force vs Army Colours

Mari Petroleum Company Limited, Navy, WAPDA, Pakistan Air Force claim victoriesAbdul Jabbar FaisalRAWALPINDI: Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL), Pakistan Navy, Pakistan WAPDA, and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) posted victories in the 2nd Mari Petroleum Azadi Cup Hockey Tournament 2023 after beating their respective opponents at Lt General Retired Ashfaq Nadeem Hockey Stadium Ayub Park Rawalpindi on Tuesday. It is pertinent to mention here that the tournament is being organized by Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) under the banner Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).In the first match of the day-1, host team Mari Petroleum outclassed Pakistan Police 5-1. Arbaaz Ahmed of Mari Petroleum scored 3 goals in a row on the penalty corner to score the first hat-trick of the tournament. Afraz Khan played an important role in his team's victory by scoring 2 goals. Qayyum Dogar could score a solitary goal for Police. Haroon Rasheed and Asad Abbas performed the duties of umpires while Ameer Hamza was the reserve umpire. Technical officials Murtaza Bhatti along with Yasir Lodhi and Tariq Butt performed the responsibilities of the judges.Meanwhile, in the second fixture, Pakistan Navy thrashed Army Whites by 5-1 in a single-sided affair. Basharat, Ehsanullah Khan, Mohammad Sabir, Hamad Ali, Rana Waleed scored one goal each from Pakistan Navy while Zul Noreen scored the only goal for Army White. Umpires’ duties were performed by Irfan Tahir and Fahad Ali Khan while Asad Abbas was the reserve umpire. Technical officials were Akhtar Ali along with Yasir Lodhi and Asif Shahzad acted as judges.In the penultimate fixture of the day, Pakistan WAPDA overcame Army Colour 1-0 in a nail-and-bite competition, thanks to a penalty corner goal by Panchwal Abbas in the last minute of the match. Haroon Rasheed and Ameer Hamza were field umpires while Malik Safdar was reserve umpire. Syed Zia Hussain Bukhari, Asif Shahzad, Yasir Lodhi, and Akhtar Ali were technical officials.The last match of the day was played between Pakistan Air Force (PAF), and Punjab Rangers, which PAF won by 2-1. Mohsin Hasan scored both goals from Pakistan Air Force while Dawood Bhatta scored the only goal from Punjab Rangers. Anwar Hussain and Zahid Ali performed the umpiring duties in this match along with Rizwan Khan who was the reserve umpire. The technical officials included Naveed Mirza, Gulfam Khokhar, and Yasir Lodhi along with Rafiqur Rehman.On this occasion, Tournament Director Olympian Nasir Ali, Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh, Tournament Organizing Secretary Colonel Mohammad Yameen, Assistant Tournament Director Major Tariq Wark, Assistant Tournament Director Raja Shuja Iqbal, Empires Manager Zulfikar Hussain, Assistant Empires Manager Kamran Shah, Assistant Empires Manager Mubarak Ali.   

Abdul Jabbar FaisalRAWALPINDI:-The 2nd edition of the Mari Petroleum Azadi Hockey Cup 2023 will be rolled into action at Lt. Gen. Ashfaq Nadeem Hockey Stadium, Ayub Park Rawalpindi. Besides hosts, Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL), WAPDA, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force, Police, and Punjab Rangers will fight for top honour during the six-day national hockey fixture.According to an official, the event will be conducted following International Hockey Federation (FIH), and Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) rules, as the top national technical officials and umpires will supervise the matches. Pride of Performance Olympian Nasir Ali, who secured gold medals in the 1984 Olympics and the 1982 World Cup, has been appointed Tournament Director for the Mari Petroleum Azadi Hockey Cup.Local men, Shuja Iqbal Raja and Major (Retd) Tariq Ahmed have been appointed as Assistant Tournament Directors. Colonel (retd) Mohammad Yameen Khan (Mari Petroleum) will fulfill the role of Organizing Secretary, while Dr. Ahsan Tanveer (Islamabad) has been designated Deputy Organizing Secretary.The position of chief coordinator has been entrusted to Lt. Col. R. Mohammad Asif Naz Khokhar (Lahore). Heading the jury of appeal is Olympian Hanif Khan (Karachi), an ex-captain of the national hockey team, as well as a gold medalist from the 1984 Olympics and the 1982 World Cup. Accompanying him are former international Hockey Player World Cup Gold medalist, Rana Mohammad Shafiq (Toba Tek Singh), and Rai Usman Akbar (Lahore), who will both serve as members.The Mari Petroleum Azadi Hockey Cup Technical Officials Panel includes the following appointed Haji Naeem (Rawalpindi), Tariq Butt (Lahore), Syed Zia Hussain Bukhari (Rawalpindi), Asif Baig (Islamabad), Akhtar Ali (Hyderabad), Yasir Lodhi (CASCO), Mohammad Yasin (Rawalpindi), Rafiqur Rehman (Rawalpindi), Murtaza Bhatti (Rawalpindi), Tahir Sharif Gujjar (Whari), Hamza Tufail (Peshawar), Asif Shahzad (Islamabad), Naveed Ahmed (Islamabad), and Gulfam Khokhar (Islamabad).Empires Panel: Anwar Hussain (Army), Yasir Khurshid International (Railways), Haroon Rashid International (Peshawar), Ameer Hamza (Air Force), Waqas Ahmed Butt (WAPDA), Asad Abbas (Army), Wasim (Army), Fahad Ali Khan (Karachi), Irfan Tahir (Bahawalpur), Zahid Ali (Larkana), Rizwan Khan (Karachi), and Malik Safdar (Islamabad).

Camp to start on June 12 for the preparation of the Asian Champions Trophy Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD:-Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has invited 45 players for training camp, which will get underway on June 12, at National Hockey Stadium Lahore aiming to gear up the national field hockey athletes for the forthcoming Asian Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament that will be played from August 3 to 12, 2023 this year 2023 in Chennai, India.According to an official of PHF, on the recommendations of the National Selection Committee, the PHF has invited 45 lads to report to the manager Col (Retd) Umer Sabir joining camp along with team officials.Names of players:Goalkeepers (7):Abdullah Ishtiaq Khan (MPCL), Akmal Hussain (WAPDA), Ali Raza (Punjab), Mohammad Faizan Janjua (Customs), Waqar (WAPDA), Abdullah Sheikh (Sindh), Bilal Khan (Balochistan)Defenders (5):Arbaz Ahmad (MPCL), Mohammad Sufyan Khan (KPK), Mohammad Abdullah (MPCL), Aqeel Ahmed (WAPDA), Mohammad Bilal Aslam (Customs)          Midfielders (8):Junaid Manzoor (NBP), Ahtisham Aslam (MPCL), Mohammad Murtaza Yaqoob (WAPDA), Mohammad Baqir (Punjab), Arbaz Ayaz (Sindh), Mohammad Nadeem Khan (KPK), Mohammad Zain (Customs), Mohammad Ammad (Customs).Forwards (25):Rana Abdul Waheed (WAPDA), Mohammad Umar Bhutta (WAPDA), Afraz (MPCL), Abdul Hannan Shahid (WAPDA), Rooman (WAPDA), Mohammad Shahzaib Khan (Customs), Usama Bashir (PAF), Mohammad Imran (PAF), Arshad Liaqat (MPCL), Abdul Wahab (Sindh), Abdul Rehman (WAPDA), Zikriya Hayat (Navy), Ali Murtaza (Customs), Basharat Ali (Navy), Abdul Qayyum (Customs), Bilal Akram (Punjab), Mohammad Adnan (Sindh), Rana Suhail Riaz (Customs), Waqar Ali (MPCL), Shoaib Khan (KPK), Abdul Wajid (Balochistan), Saad Shafique (Punjab), Taimoor Javed Khan (Punjab), Syed Shahbaz Haider (Navy), Mohammad Arsalan (Punjab).Official Staff:Col (Retd) Umar Sabir (Manager), Olympian Mohammad Saqlain, Olympian Rehan Butt, Olympian Dilawar Hussain & International Abdul Haseem Khan (Coaches), Abdul Ghafoor (GK Coach), Mohammad Shahid (Physiotherapist). 

SA Choudary May God save the national game of hockey from the running management of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), which is ruining the game in the country owing to its adverse policies. At present, Khalid Sajjad Khokhar is the president of PHF while Syed Haider Hussain is performing the duties of secretary of PHF.All decisions are made by only two persons Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and Syed Haider Hussain, as both have occupied the seats in the federation illegally. When Haider took charge of secretary PHF as a caretaker, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) declared this act unlawful, which was not according to the constitution of the PHF.The election process was highlighted on social media in the form of videos and pictures all over Pakistan to show the credibility of the so-called election. It is pertinent to mention here that PSB not only stopped the Pakistan Hockey Federation from this unconstitutional step, but PSB also de-notified it. Later, PSB refused to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the Pakistan Hockey Federation for touring abroad for international competitions.Later, to probe the facts, the Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan formed a committee under the supervision of the Standing Committee on Sports of the National Assembly to resolve the issues of national game hockey, which has also sent its recommendations to the Prime Minister, which has become inevitable.The current top officials of PHF are crying about the non-availability of funds to run the affairs of the federation smoothly. But on the other hand, he is also giving joyride trips to his favorite people along with the Pakistan hockey team that is Salala, Oman for the Junior Asia Cup 2023, as the training camp took place at Manzoor-ul-Hasan Hockey Stadium Defense Housing Authority (DHA) Lahore.DHA Lahore fulfilled its all commitments and not only provided its stadium for training camp (day & night) but also incurred boarding & lodging expenses along with traveling and daily allowances including players/officials of the camp and air tickets of team squad and team officials as well as sponsored their complete uniform.Pakistan Hockey Federation used the funds mercilessly and sent their favorite people on a joyride trip with the team.Col (R) Asif Naz Khokhar, Honorary Secretary of Punjab Hockey Association and brother of Khalid Sajjad Khokhar (President PHF), Abdul Azlan Khan, son of Abdul Hanif Khan (Manager), and Zia-ud-Din Burki are accompanied by the team for just a joyride trip. It is important to mention here that in 2016, when Hanif Khan was manager of the Pakistan squad for Azlan Shah, which was held in IPOH, Malaysia, his son also accompanied him. On the other hand, the coaches who trained the players in the camp for more than a month, including Adnan Zakir, Mazhar Abbas, and Rana Zubair were ignored.Adnan Zakir, who lives abroad, came specially to coach the Pakistan hockey team and on the occasion of the team’s selection, he showed his dissatisfaction over the decisions of the national selection committee and the Pakistan Hockey Federation. Later, he left for abroad. The current selection committee and the federation also made serious allegations regarding the team selection.The hockey lovers request Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif, who is also the Chief Patron of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, to take action against the federation for its wrongdoing. The Pakistan Hockey Federation should be banned as soon as possible and replaced with new faces so that they can conduct free and fair elections of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, which must be monitored by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA).Editor Note: (The writer is a hockey lover here are his personal views and if any other person or any official of the federation wants to respond to this article we will appreciate and welcome it). 

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs and international cricketer Wahab Riaz inaugurated the laying of modern FIH-approved synthetic turf at the National Hockey Stadium on Sunday. Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Shahid Zaman, Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail, Director Youth Affairs Syed Umair Hassan, Director Sports Nadeem Qaiser, Project Director PMU Qaiser Raza, International Synthetic Turf expert Usman Afridi, Deputy Director Planning Rauf Bajwa and District Sports Officer Tanveer Shah were also present on this occasion. Project Director PMU Qaiser Raza and Deputy Director Planning Rauf Bajwa briefed Adviser to CM Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz about different features of modern synthetic turf. Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz along with Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Shahid Zaman and Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail inspected the laying procedure of modern synthetic turf. Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Shahid Zaman and Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail were given souvenirs from representative of International Synthetic Turf Company on this occasion. Talking to media on this occasion, Adviser to CM Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz said that laying of modern synthetic turf at world’s largest venue - National Hockey Stadium is a first major step towards true revival of hockey in the country. “After laying of modern synthetic turf at National Hockey Stadium, we are quite confident to bring back top international hockey teams to Pakistan”. Adviser to CM Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz said that an international hockey event will be organized at National Hockey Stadium after the approval of FIH. “The project of modern synthetic turf is completed with the cost of Rs 16 crore. The synthetic turf is an international level facility which will definitely help a lot in improving the game skills of our hockey players”. Adviser to CM Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz announced that a national level hockey tournament is being planned at National Hockey Stadium in which hockey teams from all over the country will participate. “National Hockey Stadium will be further upgraded with the collaboration of private sector. Hockey is our national game and modern synthetic turf is a gift for young talented hockey players of the country,” he added. Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Shahid Zaman on this occasion gave a suggestion to utilize the space under different bridges of the city for sports activities with the collaboration of International Synthetic Turf Company upon which the representative of International Synthetic Turf Company expressed his willingness to fully cooperate with Punjab Sports Department for this unique project    

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: Lahore Division edged out Faisalabad Division by 4-3 on penalty shootouts in the nerve jangling title clash of First Ramzan Sports Series 2023 Hockey Championship on Monday night. Both the teams played a goal-less match in the stipulated time but in penalty shootouts, Lahore’s strikers and goalkeeper exhibited better performance and eventually emerged triumphant in the thrilling title clash. The winning team of Lahore was awarded a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh while the runners up Faisalabad got Rs 15 lakh. Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Shahid Zaman, Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail, Director Youth Affairs Syed Umair Hassan, Director Sports Nadeem Qaiser were also present on this occasion. In Ramzan Sports Series Table Tennis Women’s Singles final match, Lahore’s Kalsoom Khan defeated Lahore’s Pernia Khan by 3-1. Kalsoom won the title with the scores of 7-11, 11-9, 11-9 and 11-9. The title of Table Tennis Men’s Singles went to Lahore Asim Qureshi who defeated Faisalabad’s Hafeez ur Rehman by 3-2. The score of the final match was 11-9, 11-4, 6-11, 8-11 and 11-9. In Ramzan Sports Series Badminton Women’s Singles final match, Lahore’s Ghazala Siddique toppled Faisalabad’s Zubaira 2-0 with the score of 21-18, 21-6. Gujranwala defeated Multan by 2-1 in Ramzan Sports Series Men’s Singles Badminton Final. Azeem Sarwar of Gujranwala thrashed Multan’s Jalees in the title clash.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: Secretary General, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Haider Hussain has said that Sufian Khan would participate in the ongoing camp, which was organized for the preparation of the upcoming Asia Cup Hockey Tournament. “We are thankful to the Naval Chief who took interest in ending this matter. We are assured that all issues will be resolved one by one. All players and officials are focusing on the preparations for the Asia Cup. Sufyan is our national asset, he could not be ignored from the camp, “he added