LAHORE:
Pakistan hockey goes blue ahead of the 2012 Olympics which will use the same surface.
The Punjab government promised to support the national team’s preparation for the Olympics and said the blue AstroTurf would be set at the National Hockey Stadium.
The new surface will be laid after four months which will cost Rs30 million.
It will have no effect on speed but would improve visibility of the ball.
The International Hockey Federation decided on the change after they tested the blue surface in an indoors event.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2011.