Dutch penalty corner specialist, Floris Jan Bovelander spent busy day in Lahore
LAHORE: The celebrated Dutch penalty corner specialist, Floris Jan Bovelander, had a productive day in Lahore. Accompanied by H.E. Henny de Vries, the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Pakistan, Bovelander received a warm welcome at the Khawaja Junaid Hockey Academy. Later, they attended a dinner hosted by the academy.During his visit to the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore, Bovelander reminisced about Pakistan’s hockey legacy. He expressed a deep desire to see Pakistan regain its former glory in the sport.
Bovelander, accompanied by H.E. Henny de Vries, the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Pakistan, received a warm welcome at Khawaja Junaid Hockey Academy’s Turf Two. To commemorate his visit, Olympian Khawaja Junaid and the Dutch Ambassador presented him with a traditional Punjabi turban, symbolizing the local culture and hospitality.
In celebration of King’s Day in the Netherlands, Bovelander, along with footballer Kainat Bukhari and the Dutch Ambassador, cut a cake to mark the occasion. Bovelander also took to the turf to play hockey with young athletes, providing them with valuable coaching insights and mentorship to help them develop into great players.
During a media interaction, Bovelander fondly recalled his past experiences with Pakistan hockey, recognizing its rich history and expressing optimism for its revival. He emphasized the importance of hard work and patience in bringing Pakistan hockey back to the top, noting that the talent is present but requires the right guidance and support.
The visit also saw contributions from Atif Rana, the COO of Lahore Qalandars, and DIG Mehboobullah, both expressing their commitment to promoting hockey at the grassroots level. Impressed by the hospitality and enthusiasm in Pakistan, Floris Bovelander pledged future collaboration with the Khawaja Junaid Hockey Academy, indicating potential development initiatives aimed at restoring Pakistan’s hockey prominence.
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