Dear Asian Hockey Family,
My profound greetings and gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Ahmad Shah, King of Malaysia for the patronage of the Asian Hockey Federation as the Royal Patron.
And my heartiest greetings to the Asian Hockey Family. Your health and well-being are on our minds as we all deal with a national and global emergency related to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Please know we are thinking of you and wishing you continued good health.
During the past few months, strict travel restrictions were in place and sports events were postponed. The pandemic has presented us with unique challenges.
The Asian Hockey Federation together with the FIH is committed to providing our member National Associations with guidelines for the resumption of hockey activities.
It should be noted that at a slow and steady pace, we are now reaching the light at the end of the tunnel. Many countries in Asia have resumed hockey activities on a daily basis.
We have started an Online Engagement Drive by the name of the ‘Development through Distance Initiative’, in which we have been conducting Online Workshops and Courses for audiences from Asia & Africa. The reception of the online initiative is phenomenal and we are seeing high rates of participation.
In June & July, the Asian Hockey Federation conducted a survey of our Member and Potential NAs, with the aim of better understanding the implications of COVID-19. The results of the survey paint a bright picture of the future. We have also begun development support in some nations, with others in the pipeline.
We are committed to determining new dates on which events can be held, and it should not be long now that we have a proper Events Calendar.
While this pandemic has forced us into a challenging new reality, we will continue to publish important research, take on exciting projects, share what we’re learning, forge new partnerships, and keep the Asian Hockey Family knit tightly. You will continue to hear from us through all our communications channels.
Together we will get through this and continue the Asian Hockey Federation’s mission to elevate hockey in Asia to new heights.
AHF Vice President and Chairman Development & Engagement Committee,
Yokoyama Hide
