Karachi (TDI): Australia’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Neil Hawkins, made a visit to the Islahuddin Hockey Academy and handed over ‘Hockey Australia’ sticks to young and emerging hockey talent in Pakistan.
Hawkins also presented a stick as a gift to the Chief Minister of Sindh, Murad Ali Shah. He said that he was “thrilled” to present these token gifts to young players who make it from the “streets of Karachi” to the “fields of champions” with nothing but their love for the sport.
He posted on X that these hockey sticks are a way of “fuelling dreams and reigniting Pakistan’s national sport.”
From the streets of Karachi to the fields of champions! Thrilled to hand over @HockeyAustralia sticks to young talent at Islahuddin Hockey Academy—fuelling dreams and reigniting 🇵🇰’s national sport. Also gifted a stick to CM Sindh. Together reviving hockey🏑in Pakistan! 🇦🇺🤝🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/c7tqq831oY
— Neil Hawkins (@AusHCPak) March 26, 2025
Hockey Australia is set to host U16 Hockey Championships in Adelaide in just a few days. Hockey is a popular sport in Australia and most of its players are very young. The Australian hockey teams represent the country in national and international Olympic events. Ice hockey is just as popular in Australia as regular hockey.
As Pakistan’s national sport, hockey has been quite less popular over the decades. Gradually, infrastructure and play areas are being introduced to bring the sport into the mainstream.
Both Australia and Pakistan are members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and people on both sides are connected for their extreme passion for cricket. The Australian High Commission engages often in sports diplomacy in Pakistan and supports various competitions at the local level.
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Last month, Neil Hawkins participated in the award ceremony of the national blind women’s cricket training camp and tournament in Islamabad. This event was supported by the Australian High Commission.
Neil Hawkins also widely travel across Pakistan and interact with people over food and culture.
Nuzhat Rana is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
