Politics, personal 'vested' interests ruining women's hockey in Pakistan

Lahore, May 2 (ANI): Pakistan women's hockey has been going through difficult times in the recent past, and if immediate measures to resurrect the sagging status of the game are not taken, the day is not far when women's hockey in Pakistan would be an extinct sport.

People who have been involved with the game from years believe that politics and vested interests of certain individuals have destroyed women's hockey in the country, which now stands on the verge of collapse.

"Ever since present Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) women wing's general secretary Ms Parveen Gill got involved with the affairs of women's hockey in 1978, the game has not only gone to the dogs but it is almost non-existent now," the Daily Times quoted an expert, as saying.

Sources said that Gill has no technical knowledge about the game, as she was the municipal corporation lady sweepers' supervisor before making her way into the PHF women's wing through her political connections.

"Officials close to her have always been non-technical individuals with little knowledge of the sport and who have been helping her on the way as she left Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) for Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) in order to climb up the political ladder," they added.

Experts charged Gill for her 'one-woman show' in the women's hockey association in the country.

They also criticized her for sticking on to the post despite her tenure ending three years ago in 2006, and delaying the elections of the association for so long. (ANI)