The Chaudhry Arshad group is once again likely to win elections of the Lahore District Hockey Association (LDHA) in the absence of any challenger so far. The elections are scheduled to be held on Nov 15.

The game of hockey, once the most popular sports in the country, is at its lowest ebb, both in terms of popularity and recognition. Only 15 hockey clubs are affiliated with the LDHA which will cast their votes. Therefore, it will not be a big race for contesting candidates.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is holding elections across the country from the district to national level from Oct 25 to Nov 25. However, the election process may not be completed as a case against it has been filed in the Lahore High Court by Olympian Naveed Alam, raising doubts about the bogus process adopted for the elections. The LHC has summoned all stakeholders on Nov 11.

Meanwhile, the LDHA has disposed of a petition filed by Masood-ur-Rehman, who claims to be a genuine custodian of the Afghan Hockey Club, Nisbet Road. The LDHA upheld Zia-ud-Din’s body as genuine to cast the vote in the coming elections.

The Afghan Club is formed by a great hockey lover, Bazid Khan Burki, who was also a renowned sports journalist. After his death his son Zia-ud-Din is running the club. He is also a sports administrator and has a vast experience of running sports affairs in Government College, Aitchison College and some other institutions.

Meanwhile, the LDHA has also set up a training camp for under-12 boys at the newly-built Johar Town Stadium this week. Around 45 boys have reported to the camp where national coach M Rasheed is imparting basic training to them.

Mr Rasheed says since the number of the boys is increasing by the day it has been decided to continue the camp till indefinite period.

He says the boys are showing great interest in the training and he hopes that a good number of talented players will emerge.

The LDHA has provided hockey sticks and balls to these boys while kits may also be provided to them in the next phase. Most of the boys belong to Johar Town, Township and its suburban areas.

The LDHA has also sent a proposal to the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director-general to further extend the training camp period.

Olympians Akhtar Rasool and Pakistan junior coach Manzoor-ul-Hasan Junior also visit the camp and guide the boys.

The Punjab Olympic Association (PbOA) will not hold its inter-school and inter-collegiate sports gala in Lahore. Although the PbOA has announced that it will hold the event in November, no step has so far been taken in this respect.

The event has become popular in Lahore as the participation of schools and colleges has been increasing every year. Interestingly, private schools and colleges are showing more interest in this event. Private educational institutions have also hired a good number of coaches and sports administrators for the annual event.

The PbOA says that since the examinations in different schools are to be held in November it is not the right time to organize the extravaganza.

In fact, the PbOA is in trouble due to a fight between the government and the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) over the implementation of the national sports policy. Almost 90 per cent sports activities of national sports federations and Punjab sports associations have come to a halt due to this tussle.

Since the Punjab government is the custodian of the main stadium it has become a difficult task to get its booking by provincial sports associations. The provincial government has no comprehensive policy to allot its stadium which allows the officials at the helm to use it as a weapon.