Sports Bulletin

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

Sports Bulletin Report KARACHI: Over 1000 players showed their keen and reached the stadium from trials, which Lahore Qalandar started in Karachi on Friday. According to an official, the registration started at 9 am and continued till the last minute of the trials. Due to the enthusiasm and large number of players, Chief Executive Lahore Qalandars, Atif Rana said: “The enthusiasm has surprised me, it wwill be unfair to the players not to extend it by one day, the enthusiasm and passion expressed by the secretary of Pakistan Hockey Federation has been proved right by seeing the number of players here, after Karachi, Lahore, Open trials will also be held in Peshawar and Quetta. Like cricket, the mission to bring heroes ahead under the Qalandar Players Development Program”. Provincial Labor and Labor Minister Sindh Saeed Ghani said: “Lahore Qalandar, Federation and the government are doing their work, hockey is a sport for all of us, but unfortunately it has gone too far, but I am sure that like the Lahore Qalandar cricket, hockey will also flourish. The arrival of Shaheen Shah and his colleagues has encouraged the players associated with the national game. Sindh Government supports hockey. Sindh government is going to rebuild the Abdul Sattar Hockey Stadium”. Secretary General PHF Haider Hussain said: “I thank Lahore Qalandar and the Sindh government. Lahore Qalandar is the last ray of hope for the revival of hockey. Qalandar talent hunt program will be held in the city, I pray that the efforts of Lahore Qalandar and Atif Rana will pay off and once again the green crescent flag will be seen the hoist in the hockey field, provincial minister Saeed Ghani in bringing Lahore Qalandar to Karachi Sindh government has an important role, if the Sindh government does not give grant and does not support hockey, then maybe no one will even mention the name of hockey”. The trials were supervised by the Chairman of the Selection Committee of Pakistan Hockey Federation Olympian Kaleemullah and other members Olympian Nasir Ali, Olympian Shakeel Abbasi and Mohammad Naeem Khan is doing it himself. The Lahore Qalandar team led by Shaheen Shah Afridi arrived at the KHA Sports Complex when the players gave them a warm welcome. The players described the arrival of the Lahore Qalandar team as a memorable moment for them. On this occasion, Olympian Hanif Khan, KHA Patron General, and Vice President PHF Major General Retd. Test cricketer Sadiq Mohammad and other officials of KHA were also present

Sports Bulletin Report MULTAN (November 27, 2022): Pakistan WAPDA have won the title of the first All-Pakistan Commissioner Gold Cup Hockey Tournament played at Multan Hockey Stadium under the supervision of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) in collaboration with the District Government Multan, District Sports Department Multan and District Hockey Association Multan. An exciting final between Army and WAPDA was quelled 1-1 in the 4 quarters. Amjad Khan of WAPDA scored the goal for his team while Mohammad Anas scored a goal for Army. Later Pakistan WAPDA won by four goals to two through a shootout. Yasir Khursheed and Hafiz Atif Butt performed the duties of umpiring in this match. The reserve umpire was Irfan Tahir. While the technical official was Muzmal Hussain and the judges were Shafqat Malik, Mohammad Ali, Naseer, Umair, Mirza Mujahid. Waqar Younis of WAPDA declared man of the match. Earlier, the third and fourth position play-off match was taken place between Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Pakistan Navy won 2-1. Mohammad Yasir scored both goals for Navy. While Adnan scored a goal for PAF. Waqas Butt and Zahid Hameed performed the duties of umpiring while reserve umpire was Irfan Tahir. Technical official was Javed Sadiq and the judges were Shafqat Malik, Naseer, Umeer, Munoor and Rao Nadeem. Assistant Commissioner Multan City Khawaja Umeer, Brigadier Malik Masroor, Chaudhry Mohammad Aneeq, Director of Yakoob Soup, General Manager Royal Orchard Malik Abdul Rauf, Sheikh Mohammad Adnan of Cleaning Solution Private Limited, Al Falah were the chief guests on the occasion of the final. Marketing Rashid Qureshi, Mohammad Hasan Khan DO Sports Rana Mohammad Nadeem Anjum, Tournament Director Olympian Qamar Zia, PHF Go Coordinator Major (Retd) Javed Arshad Manj, Tournament Organizing Secretary Col R Asif Naz Khokhar, Assistant Tournament Directors Usman Akbar Rai Kharl and Kamran Sabir, President DHA Multan Mian Mohammad Zafarullah Bhatti, Chief Coordinator Kamran Sharif Chaudhry, Umpire Manager Jameel Butt, Assistant Umpire Manager Zavalafiqar Hussain, Coordinator Amanullah Malik, Coordinator Abdul Saeed, Media Coordinator Mohammad Waqas Shaikh, D. HA Multan Vice President Ambassador Shah, Joint Secretary Mohammad Asif Mehmood, Executive Member Khurram Shah were also present.

Sports Bulletin Report KARACHI: Secretary, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Haider Hussain has said that the national team would participate in the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament with full preparations and try their best to produce sparkling performance. According to media department of PHF, Haider said in his statement, “According to the instructions of President PHF Brigadier (R) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, all facilities are being provided to the players in the camp. We took trials of players from across the country on the basis of merit under the supervision of the PHF Selection Committee that resulted in the best combination of senior and junior players, “he added. “Regarding the selection of players, the performance of the players in the All Pakistan Chief Minister Balochistan Hockey Tournament held in Quetta last month came to light.PHF full selection committee chairman and members were present on this occasion. Apart from this, there was an opportunity to bring players from all over Pakistan including KPK, Sindh Punjab, Balochistan. Team will leave for Malaysia on October 27 to play the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Cup, where they will also play a practice match against Japan, “he said.