Mayor Karachi, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, announced on Saturday a cash award of Rs100,000 for each player of the Pakistan Hockey team in recognition of their excellent performance at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2024.
Despite losing to Japan in the final, Pakistan’s effort was commendable. The match concluded with a penalty shoot-out score of 4-1 in favour of Japan. Both teams had performed undefeated throughout the tournament, leading to a high-stakes finale that ended 2-2 in regular time.
Japan excelled in the penalty shoot-out, converting four attempts. Pakistan managed to score once through Ammad Butt on their third try.
This marked Pakistan’s return to the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup final after 13 years. The team won against Malaysia, South Korea, and Canada throughout the tournament. They also drew with New Zealand during the group stages.
In his statement, Mayor Wahab praised the team for their skilful display and for reaching the finals, which brought honour to the nation. He affirmed Karachi’s ongoing support for the national team and mentioned the Sindh government’s commitment to enhancing the country’s national sport. He emphasized that Karachi’s doors are always open to the national hockey team.
