Old Ravians XI beaten the Vice Chancellor XI in a festival hockey match

Lahore: The Old Ravians XI have beaten the Vice Chancellor XI by 3-2 in a festival hockey match played at the Government College University, Lahore in connection with its 150 years of excellence.

Seven eminent Old Ravian Olympians and international hockey players including Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Akhtar Rasool, Manzoor-ul-Hassan, Rehan Butt, Khawaja Junaid , Qayyaum Rasheed and Sufi Dilawar took part in the festival hockey match at their alma mater and shared their life experiences with the university’s sportsmen.

PHF Secretary Mujahid Ali Rana and former secretary Muhammad Asif Bajwa were also present.

Addressing the ceremony, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman said GCU was one of the finest sports nurseries in Pakistan and producing and grooming sportsmen for national teams in all sports. He appreciated the participation of a large number of Old Ravian Olympians in festival hockey match, saying that they were the pride of GCU.

PHF President Akhtar Rasool said Pakistan had lacked behind in sports because the premier educational institutions of the country had completely neglected it. He paid tributes to Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman for establishing the state-of-the-art hockey and gymnastic academies at GCU for school children.

He also remembered that he had graduated from the Government College, Lahore and during his college days, he remained the captain of the College Hockey team. He was also awarded “Roll of Honor” and “College Color” for his excellent performance in hockey.

GCU Director Sports Khadim Ali Khan said that the importance given to sports by the developed countries was no less than education. He said that the GCU leadership had provided full encouragement and conducive environment for the sports activities right from the beginning.