Hockey turf, tartan track at Habib Public School inaugurated

KARACHI: A new synthetic hockey turf and a tartan track were inaugurated at Habib Public School the other day.

The tartan track has been laid alongside the hockey turf. Both were imported from the UK. Floodlights have also been installed at the ground. An exhibition match was played on the occasion between Hasan Sardar XI and Safdar Abbas XI. Safdar Abbas XI defeated Hasan Sardar XI 1-0.

The teams included many Olympians and international players who were produced by Habib Public School. They included Hasan Sardar, Safdar Abbas, Kamran Ashraf, Qamar Ibrahim, and Asif Khan.

It may be noted that Habib Public School produced many hockey Olympians and international players, including Ayaz Mehmood and Sohail Abbas, who has the record of scoring most goals in international hockey.

The school also has a football ground, a swimming pool, and other sports facilities. On the occasion, the administration of the school vowed that it would continue to provide its students the best sports facilities so that they excel not only in education but also in sports.

It was announced that a cricket ground and tennis courts would be built at the school, funded by the school’s alumni. School principal Mrs Nargis Alavi spoke of the history of the school and presented a memento to Ali Suleman Habib, a member of Habib Education Trust, in appreciation for providing world-class sports facilities at the school. 

She said the school is committed to producing world-class players not only in hockey but also in cricket, football, basketball, and swimming. She said the school would also provide facilities of other sports which students wished to play.

The laying of the tartan track is a big achievement, considering the fact that Sindh has only one tartan track, at Pakistan Sports Board’s coaching centre, which is too old to be used. Federal and provincial governments have failed to lay a single tartan track in any city of the province.

Mrs Mehar Afroze Habib, mother of Ali Suleman Habib, inaugurated the hockey turf and tartan track by cutting the ribbon.Dozens of old Habibians attended the inauguration ceremony and applauded the school’s services in academics and sports. They promised to provide all possible financial support for extension of sports facilities at the school.