Muscat :

To mark the 68th Independence Day of India, under the patronage of Indian Embassy in Oman and Oman Hockey Association (OHA), the Friends of Naqvi Group and Team Coorg organised an exciting hockey festivity at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on August 8.

Two festival matches, one for the Ambassadors Cup and the other for the seventh edition of Independence Day of India 2014 Cup, were played under the flood light at the lush green hockey astro turf. JS Mukul, Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate, was the chief guest and Shaikh Mahfood Ali Juma al Juma was the guest of honour.

The other sports dignitaries present were the OHA- secretary-general Redha Taqi Lawati, the Secretary-General of Oman Cricket Madhu Jesrani and the former Indian hockey player Sultan Abbas Naqvi.
The Indian Embassy XI lifted the Ambassadors Cup defeating Indian School Al Seeb 2-1 and the Oman Veterans XI lifted the Independence Day Of India 2014 Cup defeating Team Coorg Muscat 6-3 in the presence of hockey lovers of all ages.

“We got ample chance to score but could not capitalise it in the absence of our star forward Zaman,” said Team Coorg manager Belu Kuttappa.

The prizes and other citations were given away by JS Mukul, Madhu Jesrani and Redha Taqi Lawati.
The excitement of evening for the children below 10 years of age was the Indian national anthem recitation competition which was judged by Kanchan Bijlani and Farheen Khan.

This patriotic activity will now be a regular feature in years to come.

“I am quite pleased and charged to see such a massive attendance of the hockey lovers of Oman from all communities at the stadium, who have turned in such a large number to mark the independence celebration of India through this hockey festivity,” said veteran hockey ace SAS Naqvi who has indeed pledged his entire life for the promotion hockey in India and Oman.

The event was supported by Khimji Ramdas, Raha Poly products and Pokari (Muscat Pharmacy) and BG.
The vote of Thanks was given by Mohammad Osama Rawat.

source: http://www.main.omanobserver.om / Oman Daily Observer / Home> Sports / by Oman Observer / Sunday – August 10th, 2014