President Pakistan Hockey Federation Qasim Zia has said that the talks are underway with India for hockey series between the two countries.
He broke the news while speaking at a reception hosted by Islamabad Sports Reporters Association here on Monday. Secretary PHF Asif Bajwa was also there.
Zia said that Pakistani High Commissioner at New Delhi Shahid Malik was trying to revive hockey series between Pakistan and India and soon the people would hear good news regarding this.
He said that the Federation was working for the promotion of the game and Chinese hockey team would visit Pakistan during current calendar year. He was of the view that the young players would get an opportunity to show good performance during the tours of foreign hockey teams to Pakistan.
The PHF President said that the Pakistani team is preparing for the Olympics Games, for which team would be selected from the 25 players which are the part of the national team currently. He said that the selection of the team is the responsibility of selection committee that realizes better that which player was in his best form.
The former Olympian was of the view that the defeat as well as victory is the part of the game but team is showing better performance. He said that indoor hockey would be launched in the country after Olympics games.
He said: “PHF is facing financial crises and I would call on Prime Minister regarding release of money which was announced for players. In this connection the federation also talked to Pakistan Sports Board”. He said that a new astroturf would be laid down at Lahore before December. The project is being financed by Punjab government.
