PESHAWAR: As an important step to promote sports activities in the province, the provincial government is going to organize Hockey League in the province.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan on Friday formally unveiled the official logo and trophy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hockey League 2021, the first ever league in the history of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Under the league matches are scheduled to be started by the end of this month. A total of eight different teams will participate in the league including Peshawar Falcon, Malakand Tigers, D.I Khan Stallion, Hazara Warriors, Bannu Panthers, Mardan Bears, Tribal Lines and Kohat Eagles. The first match of the league would be held between Peshawar Falcon and Bannu Panthers.
A ceremony regarding unveiling of logo and trophy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hockey League was held here with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan as a chief guest. Members Provincial Cabinet Kamran Bangash and Anwar Zaib, MPA Fakhar Jehan, Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation Asif Bajwah, Chief Coach Pakistan Hockey Team Khwaja Junaid, Squash Legend Jan Sher Khan, other prominent players and concerned higher authorities attended the ceremony.
Addressing the ceremony, the chief minister has said that holding of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hockey League would prove to be a mile stone towards the revival of the national game-hockey adding that the incumbent provincial government was striving hard to promote sports activities in the province and budget of sport sector had been increased manifold for the purpose. He said that his government was fully committed to attract the youth towards sports activities by providing them the best facilities. He added that revival of national game was our collective responsibility for which all the stakeholders would have to play their respective role.
He announced establishment of three new hockey turfs in Buner, Swabi and Malakand adding that the provincial government was taking visible steps for promoting national game in the province. “Four new hockey turf had already been developed at Charsadda, Kohat, D.I Khan and Peshawar,” he said and added that work on developing hockey turfs in Bajawar, Nowshehra and Abbottabad was in progress. He said that 12 Astroturf would be available in the province by the end of this fiscal year.
Similarly, he said that sport complexes had been established at all the divisional headquarters of the province. The chief minister said that the provincial government would fulfill all the requirements for promoting sport activity in the province adding that sports facilities in the newly merged districts were being rehabilitated on fast track. He directed the high up of sports department to come up with workable proposals for the establishment of sports complex at district level.
Earlier, Secretary Sports Abid Majeed while sharing details of Hockey League has said that the matches would be held in the different Astroturf of the province including D.I Khan, Bannu, Kohat, Peshawar, Charsadda and Mardan. All the facilities including transport, food, accommodation and kits would be provided by the provincial government. He told that winner teams would also be provided with cash prizes, trophy sets, medals and certificates. Rs. one million cash prize would be provided to first position holder team whereas second and third position holder would get prize of Rs. 0.5 million and Rs. 0.2 million respectively.