Provincial Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs, Jehangir Khanzada has said that holding of All Pakistan Women Hockey League in collaboration with Punjab Sports Board and Hockey Association Punjab will result in encouragement of women in sports field. He said that hockey is our national game and its promotion is top priority of Punjab Sports Department.
He expressed these views while addressing introductory ceremony of first All Pakistan Women Hockey League Punjab today. The Minister welcomed the players of five franchised teams participating in Women Hockey League including Lahore Lions, Peshawar Dears, Karachi Dolphin, Quetta Panther and Islamabad Eagles on their arrival at Lahore and congratulated them on their selection for first women hockey team. Secretary Hockey Association, Rahat Khan told the Minister that players of all teams have been selected on the basis of the best who will practice under the supervision of experienced coaches. He thanked Punjab government and Sports Board Punjab on holding first Women Hockey League. DG Sports Zulfiqar Ghumman appreciated special interest of Punjab government and Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for ensuring participation of women in healthy activities and promotion of hockey. He said that hockey league will start tomorrow and continue up to February 8. He said that Sports Board Punjab will be responsible for the boarding and lodging of the players during this period. Jahangir Khanzada reiterated that Punjab government and Sports Board Punjab are taking all out steps for the participation of women in all the sports including hockey which is an open acknowledgement of women importance in national mainstream of development. He further said that women hockey league is an important step of the Punjab government for the revival of the national sports and active participation of women in sports sector will prove to be harbinger of more achievements in future.