The exhibition Quaid-e-Azam Day hockey match at the National Hockey Stadium culminated in a narrow 4-3 victory for Olympians XI over Pakistan Greens XI. Dignitaries in attendance included esteemed guests such as Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz and Caretaker Provincial Ministers for Housing, Auqaf, and Education.
The event also saw the participation of renowned Olympians like Akhtar Rasool, Secretary PHF Rana Mujahid, and former secretaries PHF Shahbaz Sr and Asif Bajwa, among others. Their presence served as an inspiration for young hockey players and added grandeur to the celebration of Quaid-e-Azam’s birth anniversary.
Adviser Wahab Riaz lauded the significant contribution of Quaid-e-Azam in the creation of Pakistan and conveyed well wishes to the Christian community for the upcoming Christmas festivities. He also announced the Sports and Youth Affairs Department’s plans to organize a hockey league to revive the national game of Pakistan. Efforts are also underway to arrange an international hockey event at the National Hockey Stadium in collaboration with Sports Board Punjab and PHF.
The match displayed exceptional skills from the Olympians, resulting in goals scored by Shafqat Malik, Shahbaz Sr, Shahid Gill, and M Usman. Pakistan Greens XI, though displaying remarkable hockey, fell short by a narrow margin. Rana Waleed netted two goals, while the third goal was scored by M Ammad for the losing team.
The event was organized by the Punjab Sports Department under the guidance of Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail, who also oversaw the distribution of prizes and souvenirs. The evening concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony to commemorate Quaid-e-Azam’s birth anniversary.
The participation of esteemed personalities and the showcase of extraordinary talent made the Quaid Day exhibition hockey match a resounding success, celebrating both the legacy of the nation’s founder and the spirit of sportsmanship.