Summary:
AGRA: Mohammad Faraz , a BA first year student of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has been selected in Indian junior men’s hockey team for the upcoming U-23 Six Nations Tournament to be held in Antwerp, Belgium from July 14-21.According to AMU’s spokesperson Shafey Kidwai , Hockey India declared his name with 17 other members of the team. They all will play their opening match against Ireland on July 14.Before leaving for Belgium, a 19-year-old Faraz showed confidence that the team would return with prestigious tournament cup, said the spokesperson. Faraz mentioned that this tournament is a platform for him to catch the attention of the national selectors.He owes his success to people, who have influenced him to channelize his "talent and promoted him at national level" like ex-captain and Olympian Zafar Iqbal, his mentor, an alumnus of AMU Naved Zia, who gave him break in AIR India, and his coach Iqbal khan Secretary DHA Moradabad.Zafar Iqbal, former captain and Olympian, said that it is revival of hockey from AMU platform and Mohd Faraz's success is his hard work and perseverance.“The other students will surely get motivated by the recent success of Faraz, which is constant result of his efforts to achieve what he always wanted to be,” said the University Games Secretary Prof Amjad Rizvi.A player, whose drag-flicks did wonders for AIR India with hat-tricks of goals at VIII Hockey India division and senior men national championship at Mohd Shahid stadium held recently, Faraz had a humble beginning and early life struggle, which had hard-wired him from inside and thus had helped him to fulfil his dream.His favourite players are Gonzalo Peillat and Rupinder Pal, said AMU officials..