KARACHI: The Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) successfully concluded its Winter Hockey Camp at the KHA Sports Complex, marking a significant step toward reviving the national sport in Pakistan. The camp, held under the support of the Sports Department of the Government of Sindh, saw an overwhelming participation of over 350 boys and girls, aged 8 to 22, who took part in two phases of training, learning the fundamentals of hockey from Olympians and international players.
The event, celebrated with a grand closing ceremony, was attended by prominent figures from the sports world, including Member of National Assembly and President of KHA District East, Hassan Sabir Advocate, Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), Mohammad Yasir Pirzada, and KHA Patron Dr. Syed Junaid Ali Shah. The ceremony also witnessed the presence of renowned Olympians Hanif Khan, Iftikhar Syed, Nasir Ali, Waseem Feroze, and other international players.
In his address, MNA Hassan Sabir praised the contributions of past Olympians, emphasizing that the country’s glory in hockey was built on the foundation of street-level passion for the sport. “When our Olympians played, hockey was also played in the streets of the country,” Sabir said, expressing hope that the future of hockey could be rekindled with the emergence of young talents like Haider Hussain, Secretary General of Pakistan Hockey Federation. He reaffirmed MQM Pakistan’s commitment to supporting the Karachi Hockey Association and its efforts to rejuvenate hockey in the city.
The event also drew attention to the strong infrastructure of the KHA Sports Complex, which served as the perfect venue for the camp. “The enthusiasm displayed by the players and the facilities here make me confident that the past glory of hockey will once again be our future,” said Yasir Pirzada, the Director General of PSB. He further assured that PSB would extend full support to KHA in its mission to bring hockey back to the forefront.
Dr. Syed Junaid Ali Shah, Patron of KHA, shared the camp’s core mission: to transfer the skills and passion for hockey to the younger generation and ensure that the national sport receives the attention it deserves. “The objective is to inspire the new generation, shape the future of hockey, and reinstate it as a leading sport in Pakistan,” he said.
In recognition of their efforts, MNA Hassan Sabir, DG Yasir Pirzada, Dr. Junaid Ali Shah, and Haider Hussain honored international players including Khalid Jr., Naeem Ahmed, Asad Qureshi, and several coaches and volunteers, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to the sport.
The ceremony also included the distribution of certificates and T-shirts to participants, while hockey sticks and balls were handed out to players from various districts of Karachi. The initiative by the Sindh Sports Department has sparked a renewed interest in the sport across the city, with support for grassroots-level hockey now more robust than ever.
As the KHA Winter Hockey Camp concludes, the spirit of hockey in Karachi is alive and well, with hopes high for a resurgence of the national sport in Pakistan. The passion, skills, and enthusiasm displayed at the camp are sure to inspire a new generation of hockey players ready to bring the glory days of Pakistani hockey back to life.
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