Title: A New Chapter for Esteghlal: Tajernia Announces Major Expansion into Asian Hockey
In a strategic move signaling a significant institutional shift, Esteghlal Football Club has officially announced its expansion into professional hockey, marking a pivotal step in its transformation into a multi-sport powerhouse.
A Strategic Vision for a Multi-Sport Club
The announcement was made by Ali Tajernia, the Chairman and Managing Director of Esteghlal Club, during a high-profile meeting with Bahram Ghadimi, the President of Iran’s Hockey Federation. Tajernia emphasized that this initiative is a core component of a broader structural evolution for the historic club.
“Esteghlal is moving beyond the framework of a single football team and is being transformed into a professional, multi-disciplinary sports club,” Tajernia stated. He highlighted the positive collaboration with the Hockey Federation, led by the experienced Ghadimi, as a catalyst for this new and vibrant chapter for Iranian hockey.
Founding the First National Hockey Academy
As part of this ambitious expansion, concrete steps have already been taken. Through a joint cooperation agreement with the Hockey Federation, the first field hockey academy in the country, to be named the “Esteghlal Hockey Academy,” will be established at Tehran’s Azadi Sports Complex. An official call for tryouts and recruitment is expected to be announced shortly.
Furthermore, it was confirmed that Esteghlal will form an indoor hockey team and will make its debut in the upcoming Asian Hockey Club League.
Federation Praise for Esteghlal’s Role
President of the Hockey Federation, Bahram Ghadimi, expressed his appreciation for Tajernia’s influential role and Esteghlal’s commitment. He thanked Tajernia for leveraging Esteghlal’s prominent platform to support federations and promote sports beyond football.
Ghadimi also pointed to Tajernia’s academic and scientific standing, noting it has helped forge important connections in sports health and inter-federation cooperation. He expressed confidence that with Esteghlal’s support, hockey—a globally popular sport—would reclaim its rightful stature within Iran.
A Symbolic Start to a National Project
The meeting concluded with a symbolic gesture, as Ghadimi presented Tajernia with a hockey stick and ball. In a defining moment, Tajernia took the stick and made the first ceremonial shot inside the Federation headquarters, personally launching Esteghlal’s grand project in Iranian and Asian hockey. The new standard hockey pitch at the Azadi Complex will serve as the main base for this national endeavor.