AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Islamabad, April 18, 2013 (PPI-OT): The victorious players of Pakistan Under-16 Boys Hockey team, who brought laurels to Pakistan by winning the U-16 Asia Cup for the 2nd time consecutively, were today invited to the Aiwan-e-Sadr by President Asif Ali Zardari to congratulate them on their brilliant performance in the tournament.
The President at a reception hosted for the players of the winning team also announced awards of 2 lac rupees each to the 10 players, four coaches and a physiotherapist of the Under-16 Boys Hockey team which won the Asia Cup in Singapore.
The President on the occasion termed the youth, a future asset of the country and said that hockey is the game of our national pride and that the recent victory augers well for promotion of hockey and to regain our lost glory in future mega international events. He urged the Hockey Federation for dedicated efforts to tap the abundantly available raw talent in the country and groom them on scientific lines.
The President while interacting with the team members felicitated them for their glorious victory and said that the whole nation was proud of its young athletes .He expressed hope that they would continue to make their mark in the field and win more laurels for themselves and the country.
Lauding the performance of Pakistan Hockey Federation for promoting the game of Hockey in the country, the President also felicitated President PHF, Mr. Qasim Zia, coaches and team management for the historic victory in Asia Cup in Singapore, where Pakistan won the title without losing any match in the tournament.
The President expressed delight to learn that by winning the Junior Asia Cup, the U-16 Boys Hockey Team has also qualified for the Youth Olympic Games to be held in Nanjing/China in the year 2014.
The players of the team thanked the President for the support the Government has been providing to them and the PHF.
The reception was attended among others by Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar, Mr. Himayatullah Khan, special secretary, Mr. Qasim Zia, President Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), Mr. Muhammad Asif Bajwa, Secy General PHF, coaches of the hockey team and other senior officials.
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Haji Ahmed Malik
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Press Information Department (PID)
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