The Pakistan Hockey Federation has requested the Asian Hockey Federation to postpone the Indoor Asia Cup for a month to facilitate them in laying the playing mat in the arena at Islamabad’s Liaquat Gymnasium. “The event was to be played in the first week of December but there is delay in installing the playing pitch and we have requested the AHF to postpone the event till the end of December,” said Mohammad Asif Bajwa, Secretary, PHF here on Wednesday. He expressed the hope that AHF will give a due consideration to their request helping them to complete the laying of the playing surface.
“Asia’s top hockey nations will feature in the indoor hockey competition which is thrilling due to shorter field and different hockey sticks,” he said. PHF Secretary said the holding of Asia Cup will help in bringing back international hockey in Pakistan besides portraying a enhanced image of the country. He disclosed that Asian Hockey Champions Trophy which was to played from December 14 has been postponed for a few days and will now be played from December 20.
“The reason behind postponement of the event is conclusion of Champions trophy in Australia on December 10 and in between there was very little time left for teams from Asia to feature in the Asian version,” he said, adding: “With little time gained due to postponement the teams will be able to get some rest ahead of their participation.”
Bajwa expressed his satisfaction over the work to make the national hockey stadium for laying blue coloured synthetic pitch. “The hockey activities will return to Lahore next month with the installation of the turf and we will be organizing a number of national level events on it,” he added.
