Government of Pakistan to financially support hockey : Tayyab Ikram

Lahore: Hockey community of Pakistan in general and the Lahorites in particular honoured their scion Tayyab Ikram on his appointment as the Chief Executive of Asian Hockey Federation (AFH) in a graceful ceremony organized by Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) at a local hotel here on Tuesday. Tayyab who hails from Lahore has become the first Pakistani to become the chief executive of AHF which is not only a great honour for the country but acknowledgment of Pakistan’s services to the world hockey.

Speaking on the occasion Tayyab urged upon the prime minister of Pakistan who is also the Patron-in-Chief of the PHF to release grant for the Federation which was badly needed to promote and develop hockey in Pakistan. He added that hockey was a big demanding game which couldn’t be progressed without sound financial support. “You can’t achieve anything without financial support. I appeal to the government of Pakistan to financially support hockey which has the potential to bring laurels for the country,” Tayyab said.

The AHF chief executive also resolved to bring back international hockey in Pakistan. “I feel it my moral responsibility and you need not to ask me. As chief executive of the Asian body I shall play my role effectively to bring international Events in Pakistan”, Tayyab promised. He informed that there was already a general realization in the hockey fraternity throughout the world that Pakistan hockey should stand on its feet. “Believe me you that the world hockey community is committed to revive international hockey in Pakistan”, Tayyab assured.

The AHF chief executive stressed upon the PHF to improve domestic competition by organizing national level tournaments both at the junior and senior levels. He added that besides revival of international hockey it was his task to uplift the game in Pakistan.

In his concluding remarks the PHF President Akhtar Rasool Chaudhry also appealed the government to issue much needed grant to the Federation which was badly required to carry out domestic and international hockey activities. He paid tribute Tayyab Ikram on his appointment and also hoped that under him the AHF would play its role to revive international hockey in Pakistan.

Earlier, PHF Secretary General Rana Mujahid said Tayyab was a dynamic personality who not only earned name in hockey coaching and became director coaching of the FIH but also excelled in the administration of the game. He urged upon the AHF chief executive to award routine international or invitational tournaments to Pakistan. Former president PHF Qasim Zia, secretaries Brig (Retd) Musarrat Ullah Khan, Asif Bajwa, former Olympians Khawaja Junaid, Tahir Zaman, Anjum Saeed, Danish Kaleem, Tariq Sheikh and a number of hockey lovers also attended the ceremony.