FIH honours late Sultan Azlan Shah during Silver Jubilee SAS Cup

During his decades as President of Asian and Malaysian hockey, HRH Sultan Azlan Shah always showed great committment and passion, envisioning and leading the implementation of bold initiatives which promoted and globalised world hockey.

The result was enormous growth and development of his favourite sport. He had numerous accomplishments, which include creating a long-term athlete career and programme and sustainable education projects, as well as introducing the prestigious Sultan Azlan Shah Cup tournament, which sees its 25th edition taking place this week with the final on April 16.

In memory of his spirit and dedication, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) created the prestigious HRH Sultan Azlan Shah Award, which will be presented every two years during the FIH’s Ordinary Congress.

The award is designed to acknowledge and celebrate the actions and achievements undertaken by an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the hockey family and whose leadership, vision and drive make them an inspirational role model beyond the sport of hockey.
The FIH President, Leandro Negre, also presented HRH Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah with a certificate and memento to acknowledge and memorialize the FIH Honorary Membership bestowed upon HRH Sultan Azlan Shah posthumously during the FIH Congress in late 2014 to recognise his outstanding contribution and many years of dedicated service to the sport on the national, continental and international level.

FIH President, Leandro Negre, said: “FIH is truly appreciative of the contributions by the late Sultan Azlan Shah and the introduction of this award is our way of recognising his lengthy and valuable services in the sport in which he was very passionate about.”

Asian Hockey Federation President, HRH Prince Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, said: “The growth of hockey in Asia was fast-tracked under the leadership of the late HRH Sultan Azlan Shah. His vision of and commitment to in giving greater opportunities to hockey-playing nations were the primary objective in the creation of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. Today, this tournament is the most sought after international invitational event after the Olympics and World Cup.”

Asian Hockey Federation Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Tayyab Ikram, said: “It is great pleasure for me to see the HRH Sultan Azlan Shah Award come into being, a cause the Asian Hockey Federation has championed for some time. I am delighted to see HRH Sultan Azlan Shah, whose impact and importance as a leader and father to the sport in Asia and the Asian hockey family, being honoured in this manner.”