Japan Sports Diplomacy Program; Donation of Oldest Sport Lacrosse Equipment to Pakistan

Japan Sports Diplomacy Program; Donation of Oldest Sport Lacrosse Equipment to Pakistan

Islamabad (Asghar Ali Mubarak,

Sports Report) The Japan Lacrosse Association has donated equipment to the Pakistan Lacrosse Federation under the Sports Diplomacy Program.

It should be noted that lacrosse is an ancient team sport played with a lacrosse stick and a lacrosse ball. It is the oldest organized sport in North America.

On this occasion, Japan’s Deputy Chief of Mission Takano Shochi appreciated the rapidly growing popularity of lacrosse in Pakistan and said that the PLF has taken Pakistan lacrosse to a unique position in Asia by organizing more than 150 activities and two national championships in a year,

the results of which will soon be revealed in the form of international medals. Highlighting the importance of sports diplomacy, he praised the strong relations between Japan and Pakistan. He assured that Japan will continue its full support in the promotion of lacrosse.

It may be recalled that the Lacrosse Association and National Academy in Pakistan have been established under the auspices of the Pakistan Lacrosse Federation in Islamabad.

The chief guest of the event was the Deputy Chief of Mission of Japan Takanoshuchi, while the Consul of the Japanese Embassy Takane Kazumasa, Cultural Advisor Rafi Haleem, Secretary General of Pakistan Lacrosse Federation Engineer Taifur Zareen, Assistant Professor of FCE Zahid,

Urooj Jahangir other faculty members, Finance Secretary of Islamabad Lacrosse Irfan Khan and other office bearers and senior players Gul Pari, Sawira Khan, Fawzia Parveen, Muqaddas and other officials attended.

A special event was organized under the auspices of the Pakistan Lacrosse Federation at the Federal College of Education Islamabad. A training workshop was organized for the players regarding this sport.

On this occasion, the Japan Lacrosse Association donated lacrosse equipment to the Pakistan Lacrosse Federation under the Sports Diplomacy Program, while the Federation provided equipment to the Islamabad Lacrosse Association and FCE. Dr. Samia Rahman Dogar, Director of the Federal College of Education,

appreciated the establishment of the Lacrosse Academy and assured full support in its development. Engineer Teyfur Zarin thanked the Japan Lacrosse Association, the Japanese Embassy and the FCE administration.

It should be remembered that lacrosse was played by six nations in upper New York State and lower Ontario long before Christopher Columbus came to the United States.

At that time, the game of lacrosse was much more rigorous than it is today. Some tribes had up to a thousand players from each side, the goals were miles apart, and a game could last for three days. Each player tried to disable as many opponents as possible with his raised stick and later focused on scoring goals.

The Cherokee called their version of the game “the little brother of war”. Because of the endurance required and the injuries that had to be patiently endured, it was considered the best training for war. Among many tribes,

the game was a mystical ceremony as much as a game and was preceded by complex rituals and a solemn dance. In some areas, men and women played together, and in others, women had their own version. Indians still field strong teams on government reservations in the United States and Canada.

To the first French settlers in Canada who witnessed the game, which the Indians called begatawe, or tewarathon, the shape of the instrument used to catch, carry, and throw the ball suggested a bishop’s crusader (la cross), giving the game its significance.

Europeans in Canada began playing the game around 1840, and the first lacrosse organization, the Olympic Club, was founded in Montreal in 1842.

Playing on Indian teams, white players lost because they were allowed to field extra men. Members of the Montreal Lacrosse Club (founded in 1856) made some modifications to the rules, and in 1867 George Byers of Montreal,

known as the “father of lacrosse”, made further changes, including replacing the hairy deerskin Indian ball with a hard rubber ball,

limiting the number of players on a team to 12, and improving the stick for easier catching and throwing. The 12 players were then designated as goal, point, cover point, first defense, second defense, third defense,

center, third offense, second offense, first offense, away and home. In 1867 the National Lacrosse Association was formed, and the game was introduced to England. Captain W. B. Johnson of Montreal toured with a team, appearing at Windsor Castle before Queen Victoria, who found the game “very beautiful to behold”

. The English joined the game and it became popular in Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire, Manchester, Bristol and London.