PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will hold the first ever hockey league in the history of the province.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan unveiled the logo and trophy of ‘Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hockey League 2021’ on Friday. Matches will start by the end of this month. Eight teams – Peshawar Falcons, Malakand Tigers, Dera Ismail Khan stallion, Hazara Warriors, Bannu Panthers, Mardan Bears, Tribal Lions and Kohat Eagles – will participated in the league. The first match of the league will be played between Peshawar Falcons and Bannu Panthers.
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The logo and trophy unveiling ceremony of the league was held at Chief Minister’s House Peshawar. CM Khan was the chief guest while members of the provincial cabinet Kamran Bangash, Anwar Zeb, Fakhr Jahan, Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation Asif Bajwa, and Chief Coach of Pakistan Hockey Team Khawaja Junaid, Squash Legend Jan Sher Khan and other eminent players and concerned officials attended the function.
Addressing the gathering, the chief minister said that today is a “historic day” for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and sports. He said that the launch of the league is an important “milestone” towards the revival of the national sport. The Chief Minister claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been striving for the promotion of sports and the sports budget has been increased. He said, “We have to get our youth out of unnecessary activities and bring them back to sports ground. People have almost forgotten hockey. It is our responsibility to revive our national game.”
Announcing the establishment of three new astro-turfs in Buner, Swabi and Malakand, CM Khan said that the KP government was taking visible steps for the promotion of hockey. He informed that the government has laid four new hockey turfs in Charsadda, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan and Peshawar while work is underway on astro-turf in Bajaur, Nowshera and Abbottabad. He announced that by the end of this financial year, the province will have 12 astro-turfs of international standard.