Bangladesh hockey celebrates 40th anniversary

A grand ceremony marked the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh hockey on Saturday with the promise of a new beginning as the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium wore a festive look with the presence of current and former hockey players.
The ceremony, which began in the morning and came to an end later in the evening, was also organized to honour the Bangladesh hockey team, which finished the first round as champions in the World Hockey League in Singapore last year.
The festivities actually began on Friday with International Hockey Federation president Leandro Negre cutting a cake to start the celebrations. Besides the players, all the hockey personnel of the country were present at the colourful function, including the officials, coaches and referees.
The festival started with a rally and continued with an exhibition hockey match and ended with a cultural programme while the stage had a colourful look too.
The different personalities attending the programme were all hopeful of a new beginning. Former hockey star Abdus Sadek said, ‘With proper guidance, Bangladesh hockey can go a long way towards establishing itself as a major powerhouse in the world of the game. People in our country love the game of hockey. The new generation loves hockey while more and more girls are getting involved with the game. I can oversee a bright future for our country.’
The main attraction of the show was when the awards were handed over to the former star players, coaches, officials, sponsors, clubs and some district sports organisations. Honorary awards were handed out to five former players of international calibre – Yusuf Reza (posthumous), Bashir Ahmed, Abdus Sadek, Azizullah Haider Jamal and Jumman Lusai. Legendary journalist Abdul Hamid, who passed away recently, was recognised with a lifetime achievement award.