Dubai to get 'Hockey Center'

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Dubai to get Hockey Center
Officials at the Executive board meeting.

Dubai - It was the first time that an Executive Board meeting was held outside Malaysia

By James Jose

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Published: Wed 18 May 2016, 9:36 PM

Last updated: Thu 19 May 2016, 1:49 AM

In what could be a big boost for field hockey in the UAE, the country's first purpose built Hockey Center is set to come up in Dubai.
The UAE Hockey Association and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, UAE, have shown considerable interest, and with backing from the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), the Hockey Center will come up in the not so distant future.
"It is just a proposal as of now and the UAE Hockey Federation as well as the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the UAE are working on it. The FIH (International Hockey Federation) and AHF will help them," Tayyab Ikram, CEO of the AHF, told the Khaleej Times in a exclusive chat, on the sidelines of the AHF Executive Board meeting on Wednesday.
It was the first time that an Executive Board meeting was held outside Malaysia.
Ibrahim Abdul Malik, Secretary General, Ministry of Youth & Sports, UAE, said that once the Hockey Center comes up, the country will host top class hockey tournaments.
"I'm quite confident that the UAE can host a top class tournament. We are experienced enough to do that," he said.
Abdullah Ahmed Shah, President of the AHF, said: "We would like to see UAE hockey develop and prosper. We would like to popularise hockey here, especially in Dubai."
Dubai is also set to host the FIH Congress in November and the FIH will also open a regional office here at the Dubai Design District (d3).
Ismail Al Banna, President of the UAE Hockey Federation, said that hosting the FIH Congress was a massive endorsement for Dubai.
"We will be honoured to have them in Dubai and it will be a big thing for us in the UAE. It is a big support that we are getting from the FIH and it will be a great help for UAE hockey," he said.
Apart from the Hockey Center, Ikram said that the Asian Champions Trophy has now gained official status after the FIH approved the issuing of ranking points, adding more weight to the continental competition.
james@khaleejtimes.com


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