ISLAMABAD: Hockey — the national game of the country — is seeking attention of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to stay alive.

“Due to shortage of fund, the national game is going to die. Our participation in Sultan Azlan Shah and Olympic qualifiers is hanging in the balance,” Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary Rana Mujahid said.

“If fund is not released to us, we will miss all these opportunities,” he added.

Speaking at a reception hosted by the National Press Club here on Friday evening in honour of the national hockey team for their outstanding performance in the Champions Trophy and Asian Games, Rana Mujahid and Olympian Asif Bajwa said that federation was facing extreme paucity of fund.

“Our request of releasing Rs500 million has been lying at the PM office for the last several months. We request immediate approval of our file in greater interest of the game and the country,” Mujahid said.

He said that so far the national game earned 67 medals for the country.

“We were world champions, we were Olympic champions, we won almost all major titles, but unfortunately, this game is not being given due attention,” he added.

“If they (government) want to end hockey they should do it openly instead of killing it slowly,” he lamented.

The secretary said the PHF did not receive any grant from the PM office during the last 20 months.

“The PM is the patron of hockey and he should listen to our plight,” he said and added that by utilising available meagre fund the PHF had participated in Asian Games and Champions Trophy.

“In both the mega events our performance remained satisfactory as we finished as runners-up despite all odds,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Bajwa said that hockey which brought laurels for Pakistan was going to die.

“All national organisations in this country have been destroyed one by one. And now it is the turn of hockey,” he said and urged the government to come forward to save the national game.

President National Press Club Shaharyar Khan warmly greeted the national team for their brilliant performance in Champions Trophy and Asian Games.

He said the government should extend helping hand to the PHF.

“I kindly request the prime minister to issue special grant for the national team,” he added.

National players Touseeq Arshad, Arslan Qadir, Mohammad Amjad, Dilbar Hussain and other officials of the PHF attended the reception.

Talking with Dawn, centre forward Touseeq and Arslan also demanded of the government to release fund for keeping the national game alive.

They said the national team was in dire need of international exposure and number of domestic tournaments.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2015

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