Ms Leslie Scanlon, the Canadian High Commissioner in Islamabad, had arrived in the village with her daughter, who officiated the event’s inaugural match between the fox and snow leopard teams. The latter won by a score of three goals. A large crowd had gathered at the venue in the village’s centre, where an ice surface had been created for the game with the financial support of the Canadian High Commission and facilitated by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme.
An ice hockey tournament kicked off in Parwak village of the Upper Chitral district on Tuesday. A total of eight teams, four boys and girls, took part in the tournament. The final of the boys’ side was played between Wolf and Focus which the former (Wolf) won. On the girl’s side, Castle and Golden Overpoll played the final and the latter won the trophy.
The people showed great interest in the newly introduced game and were impressed by the performance of the young players, who had worked hard over the previous two years when the Canadian government introduced ice hockey here.
Canada’s national sport is ice hockey. The participants said it was a new and exciting game for them, and that it would become popular with the locals like polo, becoming the best winter pastime for them. Sara Shah, a female councillor, stated that the participation of young girls in the game was greatly appreciated and that the game promised gender equality in the area, where girls had excelled in the field of education. however, Ms Scanlon stated on this occasion that the topography of the area was ideal for the game. She stated that the game’s future would be determined by the interest of the local communities.
She stated her intention to support ice hockey and other snow-related sports in the area. She later expressed interest in the stalls of locally made handicrafts and food items.
