Former Pakistani hockey star Khalid Hameed has moved to the United States, expressing disappointment over the state of sports in Pakistan.
The former national hero said hockey and other sports are no longer treated as a priority in the country, which he believes has pushed Pakistan far behind in international sports competitions.
Hameed said Pakistan’s decline in sports is linked to the lack of attention given to athletes and sporting institutions.
According to him, when sports are ignored, young people are left with fewer positive outlets and may be pushed towards negative activities. He said Pakistan is now nowhere in major sports competitions because the country has failed to prioritise hockey and other games.
Hockey academy planned in US
Hameed said he now plans to work for the promotion of hockey in the United States. He expressed his determination to establish a hockey academy in the US, where young players can receive proper training and guidance.
The former hockey star said he wants to continue serving the sport despite moving abroad.
Hameed is not the only former national player to leave Pakistan due to disappointment over the future of sports.
Several Pakistani sports heroes have moved to the United States and Canada, where they are working to promote hockey and cricket.
Among them is hockey Olympian Muzammil Khan, who is providing hockey training on a large scale in the US state of Maryland.
Pakistani talent promoting sports overseas
Former national athletes living abroad are now playing a role in keeping Pakistan’s sporting legacy alive through coaching and training.
Their work in countries such as the US and Canada highlights both the passion of Pakistani sports figures and their concerns about the shrinking space for sports development at home.
