BAHRAIN is all set to join the international hockey fraternity following a meeting between Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) chief executive Tayyab Ikram and general secretary of Bahrain Olympic Committee Abdulrahman Askar.
Ikram, who is also the head of international relations at International Hockey Federation (FIH), was in Bahrain on a landmark official visit at the invitation of Bahrain Hockey Association (BHA).
“I have a lot of information of hockey activities in Bahrain and it is the objective of FIH to make BHA an official member of FIH and AHF. Once your entry is formalised then it will open the doors for you to participate under an official umbrella and you can have more opportunities to interact with the rest of the global family,” Ikram explained to our sister publication Gulf Weekly.
Promote
Askar welcomed Ikram and praised the great efforts of AHF in their determination to promote field hockey in Asia and particularly in the Kingdom of Bahrain where the game has been played since the 1960s.
“I see a growth in the Middle East with potential members in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Qatar and the UAE are already members and I see a clear role for Bahrain. Oman, which has been a member for a very long time, is already doing its part to spread the game in the region,” Ikram added.
Ikram also presented the vision of AHF in spreading field hockey across Asia and expressed his ambition of seeing Bahrain as a key nation in promoting hockey in the Arab world.
Ikram lauded the efforts of Bahrain Hockey Association in promoting field hockey through various activities and tournaments held over the past five years under the current team.
Head of BHA Jude D’Souza, who was present at the meeting, also expressed his delight over Ikram’s visit.
“The BHA coordinated Ikram’s official landmark visit to Bahrain as our activities got the notice and attention of AHF and FIH. We were in touch after the mega success of Bahrain Hockey 6s, which is truly an one of its kind competition in the Gulf,” he said.
“Ikram was shown the various hockey facilities around Bahrain which met his approval. We are now hopeful of getting included into the international hockey community with the support of FIH and AHF once we get BHA registered under the Bahrain Olympic Committee. When this happens it will be a historic moment for Bahrain Hockey in its 56 years of existence.”
The meeting was also attended by executive director of sports affairs at Bahrain Olympic Committee Abdul Jalil Asad.