News by “Sana Ullah“
LAHORE (Dec 25, 2023): Olympians XI secured a hard-fought victory, prevailing 4-3 against Pakistan Greens XI in a thrilling exhibition match commemorating Quaid-e-Azam Day at the newly-installed astro-turf of the National Hockey Stadium on Monday. The distinguished guests of honor for this high-profile event included Wahab Riaz, Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs, Azfar Ali Nasir, Caretaker Provincial Minister for Housing and Auqaf, and Mansoor Qadir, Caretaker Provincial Minister for Education. The match also saw the presence of legendary Olympians, adding to the excitement of the occasion.
Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz presented mementos to Caretaker Provincial Minister for Housing and Auqaf Azfar Ali Nasir and Caretaker Provincial Minister for Education Mansoor Qadir before the commencement of the match. Additionally, a cake-cutting ceremony took place, celebrating the birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam, with prominent figures like Adviser to CM Punjab on Sports Wahab Riaz, ministers, and Director General Sports Punjab Dr. Asif Tufail participating in the festivities.
The event was organized by the Punjab Sports Department under the guidance of Director General Sports Punjab Dr. Asif Tufail, who also distributed prizes among the players and presented souvenirs to hockey legends and officials. Speaking to the media, Wahab Riaz expressed that the presence of numerous hockey greats served as a significant inspiration for young players. He paid homage to Quaid-i-Azam for his pivotal role in the creation of Pakistan.
In his remarks, Wahab Riaz extended greetings to the Christian community on the occasion of Christmas, acknowledging and applauding their contribution to the country’s development. Addressing future plans, Wahab Riaz mentioned that the Sports and Youth Affairs Department is gearing up to organize a hockey league to revive the national game of Pakistan. He also highlighted collaborative efforts with Sports Board Punjab and PHF to host an international hockey event at the National Hockey Stadium.
The match featured an impressive display of hockey skills, with Olympians XI, managed by Akhtar Rasool, coached by Asif Bajwa, and captained by Shahbaz Sr, securing victory through goals from Shafqat Malik, Shahbaz Sr, Shahid Gill, and M Usman. Despite a strong performance, Pakistan Greens XI, led by Mujahid Afzal and managed by Habib ur Rehman, fell short by a narrow margin, with Rana Waleed scoring two goals and M Ammad adding the third for the losing team.
