ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced a nationwide Under-15 School Hockey Championship and Talent Hunt Programme to identify promising young players and create a structured pathway from school hockey to national teams.
According to a PHF spokesperson, regional Under-15 school hockey championships will be held across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir in January 2027. The programme will cover both boys and girls and aims to expand grassroots participation in hockey.
Regional Championships to Be Held Across Pakistan
The competitions will be organised in coordination with provincial sports and education departments, the Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC), educational boards and local administrations.
Schools at the district and divisional levels will be encouraged to participate, allowing the federation to identify players from a wider pool of young athletes.
Following the regional championships, teams will qualify for the national competition in Islamabad. Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will send four top teams each, while Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir will send two teams each.
The same qualification structure will apply to both boys’ and girls’ competitions.
National Talent Assessment in Islamabad
The selected regional teams will gather in Islamabad in February 2027 for the national championship. PHF selectors and experienced coaches will assess players on their technical skills, fitness and overall performance.
The federation plans to use the assessment process to develop a national database of young hockey talent from across the country.
U-15 National Teams to Be Selected
The talent hunt will not be limited to players from the winning teams. PHF will establish a broader national talent pool featuring outstanding boys and girls identified during the programme.
Players from this pool will be considered for selection to the Pakistan Under-15 Boys and Under-15 Girls teams, while other promising players will be retained as reserves for future opportunities.
The top three teams at the national championship will receive trophies, medals and development support. Individual awards will also be presented to the best player, goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward.
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