Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has announced the restoration of departmental hockey teams in the province,

Karachi (Sports Reporter)
Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed to take all possible steps for the restoration of the national game. He directed the Sports and Education Department to take steps to restore hockey teams in educational institutions in collaboration with the Sindh Hockey Association and said that hockey is our national game, the most modern infrastructure for hockey is in Sindh, it is hoped that the green crescent flag of Pakistan will once again rise in the field of hockey. Hockey teams are going to be restored in all provincial departments, however, it is starting with the Karachi Development Authority, Water Corporation and Karachi Metropolitan Municipality, Syed Murad Ali Shah said in this regard. The views were expressed during a meeting with a delegation led by Member National Assembly and President of Sindh Hockey Association Women’s Wing Syeda Shehla Raza at the Chief Minister’s House. The delegation included Karachi Hockey Association Secretary Olympian Hanif Khan, Olympians Kaleemullah, Iftikhar Syed, Hanif Khan, Nasir Ali and international hockey player and former secretary PHF Haider Hussain. Syeda Shehla Raza briefed the Chief Minister on the steps being taken by the Sindh Hockey Association to revive hockey, while international hockey player and former secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation Haider Hussain presented a souvenir to the Chief Minister on behalf of the KHA. On this occasion, the Chief Minister of Sindh expressed satisfaction over the performance of the Sindh hockey team in the 35th National Games and said that especially under the coaching of international hockey player Muhammad Naeem, the Sindh women’s team performed brilliantly in the National Games. For the first time in history, the competition between Sindh and WAPDA women’s teams was equal. This was possible due to the excellent play of the players and the coaching of Muhammad Naeem. The provision of free training to the players by former Olympians Kaleemullah, Iftikhar Syed, Samiullah, Hanif Khan, Nasir Ali and Wasim Feroze is a commendable initiative. Due to the presence of these Olympians on the ground, the youth are being attracted towards hockey. The Chief Minister of Sindh paid great tribute to the services of Secretary KHA Olympian Hanif Khan. He said that Olympian Samiullah is the identity of Pakistan hockey. No one else has been able to present a game like him till date. In our hearings, the echoes of Kaleemullah from Samiullah can still be heard today.