Zubair Qureshi
Ambassador of the Netherlands Henny de Vries on Thursday hosted a reception for the Dutch hockey club and the KhawajaJunaid Hockey Academy at her residence on Thursday.
The Dutch Bully Hockey Club is currently on a visit to Pakistan to play hockey matches with local teams.
It was a well-attended event with Chairman of Higher Education Commission (HEC) DrMukhtar Ahmed, Pakistan’s iconic hockey players Shehbaz senior, KhawjaJunaid German Ambassador Alfred Grannas and Zamurd Khan in attendance.
In her welcome adderess, Ambassador Henny highlighting the vital role of sports diplomacy in fostering international relations and building bridges between nations.
This historic visit has significant cultural and sporting importance as the team hailing from Oldenzaal in the Netherlands becomes the first hockey team to visit and compete against a Pakistani team in over 22 years, said she.
She said, “Hockey holds a special place in the hearts of both the Dutch and Pakistani people, and a testament to the power of sports in bridging cultures and fostering understanding. The matches played in Lahore, and the upcoming match in Islamabad being played on Friday (today), have not only showcased the skill and ability of our athletes but have also provided an opportunity for cultural exchange and mutual appreciation.”
The ambassador expressed her gratitude to KhawajaJunaid Hockey Academy for extending the invitation to the club and to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for their invaluable support. The presence of such influential voices from the media, sports, and diplomatic community underscored the collective commitment to leveraging sports as a vehicle for strengthening international relations.
Through initiatives such as these, the Dutch Ambassador emphasized the willingness to continue leveraging the power of sports to foster mutual understanding and friendship between the Netherlands and Pakistan.
The event was attended by esteemed guests, including media representatives, sports personalities, diplomats, and other stakeholders committed to promoting sports and international cooperation.
“The visit is quite an historical moment in time. The team visiting from Oldenzaal in the Netherlands is the first hockey team to visit and play matches against a Pakistani team in 22 years, “ said she adding “our love of sports and in particular hockey, or field hockey as some of our international colleagues here call it, is just one of similarities.”
“As the ambassador of the Netherlands, I am committed to fostering strong relations between our two countries and to furthering the cooperation in sports, culture, and various other fields. I truly see sports as a great tool for fostering goodwill and sustainable friendships between nations,” she said.
Chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed hoped such visits of hockey teams would continue and Pakistan would restore its past glory in hockey which is the country’s nation sports.
