SLHF push for South Asian Hockey Tourney

By Susil Premalal  

Sri Lanka Hockey Federation (SLHF) President P. Vishvanathan has urged the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) to commence the South Asian Regional Senior Men’s and Women’s Hockey Tournament. The South Asian Games (SAG) Hockey Tournament is the only event for the South Asian regional players and this tournament was last held at the 2010 SAG in Dhaka, Bangladesh.  

The SLHF President has made this request from the AHF as several South Asian countries including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives are starved of competition with the Asian heavyweights India and Pakistan competing in the AHF Tournament.   

SLHF President Vishvanathan revealed that he intends to have a discussion with the South Asian hockey authorities about the prospects of conducting a South Asian Hockey Tournament shortly.   

Vishvanathan also said that he would have a meeting with the Pakistan hockey authorities and would request the Pakistan Hockey Federation to host the inaugural South Asian Hockey Tournament.