Will Bannu’s Roman Khan realize his dream of pulling ‘Shehbaz Ahmed Senior’ this Asian Hockey Champions Trophy?

Pakistan’s national hockey team is currently in China, competing in the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2024. A decade or two back, the event would have sparked nationwide fervor but hockey’s gradual decline over the years means that a majority of the people are oblivious of the event.

There is a need to revive Pakistan’s once glorious hockey tradition by rallying support for the sport. We believe one way to go about it is by showcasing the inspiring journeys of the team, so the nation can recognize, relate, and back up its heroes, in the same manner it supports cricketers.

Highlighting their ambitions and the challenges they’ve faced can help reignite the passion for hockey that once united the nation. The ultimate goal is to restore hockey to its former glory, bringing back the pride and enthusiasm that made it a symbol of national identity.

Thanks to facilitation from the national telecom carrier, PTCL Group, we were able to converse candidly with Roman Khan from Bannu, KP, who is a midfielder in Pakistan’s national hockey team.

As a little boy, Roman accompanied his elder brother to the hockey ground, which eventually instilled a lasting love for the sport in his young heart. Encouraged by his brother to ‘do what you love’, Roman chose to pursue hockey as his career.

Roman draws inspiration from Pakistan’s legendary hockey player, Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, renowned for his unmatched ball-handling skills. He aspires to follow in his hero’s footsteps. Roman has already made strides toward this goal, having scored two pivotal goals against Japan in the Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament 2024, helping Pakistan secure a silver medal.

Despite the odds, Roman was able to power through every challenge due to his hard work and perseverance.

To the nation’s youth, Roman has a clear message, ‘there is more to sports than just cricket’. He encourages young people to broaden their horizons by supporting and participating in other sports for a diverse representation of Pakistan on the global sports stage.