VEENARI – Abdullah Ishtiaq has changed the Pakistani national hockey team into a strong force. He comes from the small town of Vehari in South Punjab. As the son of a poor street vendor, Abdullah was at first expected to follow the traditional road of doing well in school and getting a high-level job to make his family rich. But his heart was set on hockey, which didn’t seem possible because of the lack of support.
Abdullah’s life changed dramatically when a guide saw how talented he was and gave him a hockey stick so he could start playing with a local club. His big moment came when his team’s usual goalkeeper wasn’t there for an important game. Abdullah was asked to fill in because he was big and knew how to play the game. His success as an unbeatable custodian made him a sure thing for a career in the sport, which led to a spot on the national team.
Abdullah Ishtiaq is now an important part of the national team and will play with great drive for Pakistan at the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2024 in Moqi, China. His goal is to be as good at hockey as his heroes, Shehbaz Ahmed Senior and Ahmed Alam. He also wants to surprise his parents by doing even better than they thought he would.
One of Abdullah’s most important saves came during the Olympic qualifying round in Oman when he stopped Malaysia’s winning penalty shot. This moment showed how much he cared about the sport and his country.
According to Abdullah, hockey should get the same kind of backing and attention as cricket. He thanks the PTCL Group for their help and tells other brands to do the same. He said, “Hockey deserves the same level of support and recognition as cricket.”
Abdullah has this advice for young athletes: “Maintain unwavering faith in divine grace and focus on hard work. These are the ultimate keys to achieving success.” His rise from a neighbourhood star to a national hero shows how important it is to be passionate about your goals and keep going until you reach them.