ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), in collaboration with the Islamabad Hockey Association, organized an exhibition hockey match at Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad, as part of the celebrations marking Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day.
The event aimed to celebrate the spirit of Independence Day through sports while promoting and strengthening hockey in Islamabad.
In an exciting contest, the Pakistan Sports Board team defeated the Islamabad Hockey Association team 4-1.
Former Islamabad Deputy Mayor and former spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Youth Sports Programme, Syed Zeeshan Naqvi, attended the match as chief guest. He had recently accepted an invitation to become Patron-in-Chief of the Islamabad Hockey Association, and the event marked his first appearance at a hockey activity in that capacity.
PSB Director General Yawar Hussain, Deputy Director General Shahid Islam, Deputy Director General Nasrullah Rana, Deputy Director General Mumtaz-ul-Haq, Ghulam Taqi, M. Arshad, and officials and representatives of the Pakistan Sports Board and Islamabad Hockey Association also attended the event.
Among the hockey officials and personalities present were Syed Saleem Raza, Mirza Naveed Ahmed, Asif Baig, Gulfam Khokhar and Yasir Bashir, along with players and other members of the hockey community.
Two cakes were cut during the ceremony to mark Independence Day. One was cut by PSB Director General Yawar Hussain, while the second was cut by Islamabad Hockey Association Patron-in-Chief Syed Zeeshan Naqvi along with other distinguished guests.
Participants celebrated Independence Day with national enthusiasm and expressed their best wishes for Pakistan’s security, progress and prosperity.
Speakers appreciated the collaboration between the Pakistan Sports Board and Islamabad Hockey Association, describing it as a positive step towards promoting hockey in the capital.
They said such sporting activities provide young players with opportunities to showcase their talent, gain competitive experience and contribute to the revival and development of hockey in Pakistan.
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