1st Invitational Indoor T-20 Hockey Tournament won by Islamabad Tigers defeating Faisalabad club 2-1 in the final
By.Asghar Ali Mubarak
Islamabad.— The 1st Invitational Indoor T-20 Hockey Tournament won by Islamabad Tigers defeating Faisalabad club 2-1 in the final played at the Rodham Hall, Sports Complex Islamabad. The 1st Invitational Indoor T-20 Hockey Tournament was organized under the supervision of Pakistan Hockey Fedration. It is mentioned here that the Indoor twenty-twenty hockey has gained popularity and is making an impact on the sport like Twenty20 cricket. Talking to media president Islamabad hockey Malik Mehran, secertary Shararyar Khan, D.G.PSB, Akhtar Nawaz Ghanjera, organizer of the event Mr.Shafqat Hussain Malik ,Mr.Aamir Sulaman tournament director, Ms.Nelma. Hussain T-O,Mr.M.Junaid Mir Asst media manager ,Mr.Mushtaq Ahmed,Mr.Zulfiqar Shah,Mr.Hassan Akhar Rasool,T-O,Mr.Bilal Shabbir “This will be attractive for the spectators at the ground and television viewers so it will be successful. These days’ spectators want entertainment from a sport and one that keeps them on their feet.”Indoor Hockey is the new format of the sport. It requires more stamina, precision, agility and technique.Since the downfall of hockey in Pakistan; such tournament is organized to uplift the standards of hockey in the country. Indoor Hockey is a recognized by FIH and various world cups of indoor hockey has been organised as well. Sadly, Pakistan didn’t participate in any of the world cup as Pakistan is yet to have its national indoor hockey team.However the Pakistan Junior team participated in the Junior Indoor Hockey Asia Cup in Malaysia. Pakistan Junior team failed to make a strong impact in their first appearance in an indoor tournament and only won one match against Thailand 6-0 before succumbing to two consecutive defeats to defending champions Iran and the Malaysia.Earlier the 1st Invitational Indoor T-20 Hockey Tournament’s semi final and final were played on therday at the Rodham Hall, Sports Complex Islamabad. The U-16 boys and U-16 girl’s finals were also played on otherday. The U-10 exhibition match was also organized to promote hockey at grass root level.In the 1st Invitational Indoor T-20 Hockey Tournament first men semi final Faisal Club defeated Nishtar club after a hard fought battle. In the 6th minute Faisal Club scores a clean goal to give his club lead.The Nishtar Club equalized just after one minute, Awais Bhatti scored the goal for Nishtar Club. In the 23rd minute Nishtar Club again scored a goal to get a lead which was demolished by Faisal Club’s player just after a minute. Nishtar Fc again scored a brilliant goal in the 28th minute of the match to again to make the score line 3-2. Faisal Club in the 34th minute leveled the score line again. The scoreline remained 3-3 till the last minute and the match was decided on Penalty strokes. Faisal Club edged Nishtar Fc on Strokes to make their way into the final.In the second men Semi Final of1st Invitational Indoor T-20 Hockey Tournament Islamabad Tigers defeated Red Tigers in a one sided match Islamabad Tigers dominated through our the match. The score was 5-0 at the half time. The Islamabad Tigers scored two more goals to extend their lead. Red Tigers scored two consolation goals which were not enough to stop Islamabad Tigers. Zakir Ullah and Zahid Hamid scored two goals each to help their side go through to the finals. In the women semi final of 1st Invitational Indoor T-20 Hockey Tournament Ustad Aslam Roda Club defeated Young Fighter easily by 3-0. At half time the score was 2-0 which was increased to 3-0 in the next half. Nafeesa scored 2 goals while Nazia scored one to help their side to make their way to the finals. In the 2nd women semi final Diva United defeated United Women heavily in a one sided display? Diva United won the match by 6-1. They dominated most of the match despite the United Women opened the score line. Ishrat Abbas was the star of the match who scored 2 delightful goals for Diva United.In the 3rd place match, Nishtar Club won against Red Tigers by 6-4. Nouman run riot by scoring 5 goals for Nishtar Club.
The President, Pakistan Hockey Federation, Brig (Retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar along with Secretary, PHF Shahbaz Ahmad Senior was the chief guest at the closeing cermony.Talking to participents President, Pakistan Hockey Federation, Brig (Retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar said “Hockey needs patronage not only from Government sector but also from private business houses to revamp the game on solid lines to regain lost glory “PHF will soon start its league. , Brig (Retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar said that the government patronage would help revive the national sport and the announcement of cash awards for the victorious team of SAF Games is a step forward to it. Brig (R) Khalid said the task given to them in challenging as the process of rebuilding a national team takes a lot of time and involves variety of strategies and planning with the help of launching collective efforts. “The victory in SAF Games is a new beginning and a ray of hope and supplements our claim that we will be able to put the game at the right track lifting it out of gloom and strive further towards excellence,” he said.”Government is taking keen interest in promoting the games and it is giving due importance to the national sports which is quite encouraging,” he said. Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif who is also the patron- in-chief of the PHF has announced a cash award of Rs 500,000 for each member of winning team which beat India 1-0 in the final in India. Brig (Retd) Khalid was of the view that hockey needs long term planning and sincere efforts to revive it on sound lines by strengthening the base of the game by picking up young talent.”With the backing of the government we are in the process of evolving a system to broaden the base of the game which is only possible by involving the youth of the country in the sport,” said PHF Chief. He said Prime Minister’s generous gesture to reward hockey team on its achievement will go a long way in promoting the game besides becoming a motivation for the players to put in more hard work to bring good name for the country in the international events. “All the team members and officials are thankful to the Prime Minister for his interest in the game of hockey and they are confident that the team will live up to the expectation in future events as well, ” he asserted.The President PHF said they are laying special emphasis on finding new hockey team and to groom it under a plan to be watched by former champions of the game. “It is sour reality that we are struggling at international level and our international ranking is low as far as our senior team is concerned but we are quite determined to blend the team in a winning combination with solid efforts in due course of time,” he added.
At this occasion the secretary, Pakistan Hockey Federation Shahbaz Ahmad Senior said that PHF will launch its hockey league this year to engage the home players in competitive hockey besides helping them to earn handsome revenue.
“We do not want that our hockey players roam around in different countries for playing hockey as our league will help them to play hockey not only to improve their game but also to get decent revenue “,Shahbaz said PHF will soon start working on launching its league. He welcomed Happilac paints into the fold of PHF and said their support sponsorship will go a long way in the revival of the game.
“Hockey needs patronage not only from Government sector but also from private business houses to revamp the game on solid lines to regain lost glory “, he said.
Secretary PHF urged the business houses to come forward to play their due in extending financial help for achieving a collective cause of reviving hockey.
He said PHF turned down the offer of international hockey federation for participation of Pak team in the Champions trophy through a wild card keeping an eye on the rebuilding of the team.
“Heavy funds were required for the participation of the team in the trophy and decided to spend that amount on the grooming of our junior players rather taking part in a tournament (champion’s trophy) where our team could not have achieved desired result and it should have not served any purpose”.
Secretary PHF said the money received from the sponsors will be spent on the development of the game and hockey up-gradation in a most transparent manner, not on the up gradation of officials of PHF.
“Our aim is to make gradual improvement and progress and to groom maximum number of junior players to infuse young blood in the national teams and then ensure their participation in international tournaments at a stage when they are well prepared to produce desired results “, said the PHF official.
He assured that the funds gathered from the sponsors will be utilized in the right direction which is putting the hockey at the path of success.He said that Pakistan Hockey Federation is trying promote the in door hockey in the country.He said that “Introducing indoor hockey will create a lively form of the game which will help us bring hockey lovers back to the stadiums,”.Pakistan has a great record in hockey. “We participated in an indoor event for the first time and despite having a disappointing campaign we learnt a lot. It was all new for us but we were unlucky that our opening two matches were against the best indoor teams Malaysia and Iran. But once we found our feet we played well and I think we can easily adjust to this format of the game.” Indoor hockey to be six-a-side affair, an organizer of the event.Mean while Mr.Asghar Ali Mubarak the founder chairman of South Asian Sports Journalists Association informed the paticepants players that the International Hockey Federation (FIH) last year announced the new indoor hockey rules, an indoor hockey team will be six players on the pitch, instead of the existing five, from January 2016.Among the six new rules announced, one of them relates to attacking Free Pushes within three metres of the edge of the line. According to the new rule, an attacking Free Push awarded within three metres of the circle will now be taken from the point of the offence.Another rule which will now be officially adopted is the interpretation that was first introduced at the 2015 Indoor World Cup in Leipzig, Germany — the banning of ‘Trapping’ players in the circle or against the side-boards.This occurs when a player in possession of the ball is ‘trapped’ in either the corner of the pitch or against the side-boards by opponents’ flat sticks. They will have to be left with an outlet for the ball – failure to do so will result in the opponents being penalised.Compared to previous Indoor World Cups, this resulted in far fewer ‘bullies’ and a more attractive game.Furthermore, players who deliberately aim to trap the ball between their and an opponent’s stick to gain a ‘bully’ will be similarly penalised.The number of times a team may substitute a fully kitted goalkeeper off the pitch for either a player with goalkeeping privileges or another field player will be limited to a total of two per match as of 2016. It is mentioned here that the Pakistan Junior team participated in the Junior Indoor Hockey Asia Cup in Malaysia. However, they failed to make a strong impact in their first appearance in an indoor tournament and only won one match against Thailand 6-0 before succumbing to two consecutive defeats to defending champions Iran and the Malaysia. On the opening day the Fighter Club, Deva United, Ustad Aslam Roda Club and Rukhsana Rashid Women Hockey Academy Lahore won their matches. Islamabad’s newly appointed mayor Sheikh Ansar was the chief guest at the opening ceremony, while PSB DG Akhtar Ganjera, CM Punjab Advisor on Sports Malik Meherban, who is also organising committee chairman, Islamabad Hockey Association (IHA) chairman Shahryar Khan and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion. In the first match of the day, Deva Club Lahore outclassed Islamabad Girls Club 6-0. Mira Sabir scored a hat-trick while Aqeela, Amina and Ambreen hit one goal apiece. In the second match, Young Fighters Club Vihari thrashed Rising Star Club Islamabad 6-0. Sana Arshad scored a brace while Kalsoom, Zaib Ali, Sana Naz and Fauzia scored one goal each for the winners. In the third match of the day, Ustad Aslam Roda Club Gojra hammered United Club 5-1. Nazia Rehmat scored second hat-trick of the day, while Nafeesa also scored a brace for the winners. Anum scored a consolation goal for the losers. The fourth and last match of the day between Rukhsana Rashid Women Hockey Academy Lahore and United Women Hockey Academy Lahore ended in a 1-1 draw. Aqsa gave Rukhsana Rashid Academy lead which was equalised by Mahjabeen. Mr.Asghar Ali Mubarak the founder chairman of South Asian Sports Journalists Association was the chief guest on the second day event .As many as eight men and seven women teams were participated in the first edition of the event organized under the aegis of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) It is mentioned here that the Indoor twenty-twenty hockey has gained popularity and is making an impact on the sport like Twenty20 cricket.
