President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz and Balochistan Chief Minister have congratulated the hockey team for winning a silver medal in the Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
In a statement, the President said that the Pakistan hockey team played the best in the entire tournament, including the finals. Zardari said that there was a need to pay attention to the development and promotion of hockey. It is hoped that the national hockey team will perform better in the future.
PM Shehbaz Sharif also appreciated the super performance of national team after 13 years in Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament. The premier said after the national team’s beautiful performance, entire nation had shown renewed interest in hockey throughout Pakistan which signaled a promising trend for the future.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also congratulated and praised the hockey team for showing best performance in Tournament. Maryam Nawaz pledged that government would take all possible steps to promote national game in the province. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti commended the team for showing excellent performance in the tournament. Bugti said that during the entire tournament, national hockey team remained invincible.
Meanwhile Punjab government and Mayor Karachi have announced cash prizes for national hockey team after winning silver medal in Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament. Punjab Sports Minister Faisal Ayub Khokhar, while hailing the performance of the national hockey team, announced Rs2 million cash prize for the team. The Minister lauded the passion, struggle and the performance of the team for reviving national game in the country which had become dead game.
Faisal Ayub hoped that days were not far when Pakistan hockey team will brighten the name of the country. The Minister said, after the excellent performance by team players, Punjab government decided to revive the national game in the country.
Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, while hailing the super performance of the hockey team in the Azlan Shah tournament, announced a one lakh cash prize for each hockey player. Murtaza Wahab said that winning of the silver medal was a step towards the revival of the national game in the country.
He said national hockey remained unbeatable before the final of the cup. Karachi mayor said Pakistani team performed well during the final against Japan’s team, adding that success and failure were part of the game.