Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Haider Hussain recently revealed that the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has requested a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the national team to participate in the Asian Champions Trophy being held in India from August 3-12 in Chennai.
The Asian Champions Trophy is a crucial tournament for Pakistan as it will pave the team’s path towards Olympics qualifiers. If they miss the tournament, they will have to pay a hefty fine. The tournament is also an excellent opportunity for the team to prove their mettle and hone their skills against top-tier opponents.Despite the importance of the tournament, the lack of funds is still the biggest hurdle for the PHF.
However, they are trying to resolve the issue through the help of the government and private sector. The government’s support is crucial for the PHF to continue supporting the national team and providing them with adequate funds for training and preparation.The PHF has also resumed the training camp for the junior hockey team in Lahore.
This training camp is the final phase of preparation for the Junior Asia Cup 2023, which will be held in Oman from May 23 to June 1. The Junior Asia Cup is also the qualifying round of the Junior Hockey World Cup 2023, and the top three teams will qualify for the Junior World Cup.The PHF has planned to organise two-day trials for the selection of the Pakistan junior team.
PHF President Brig. Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, Secretary Hussain and Selection Committee Chairman Kaleemullah will be present on the occasion. The team management will also organise junior boys’ matches against senior players of the Pakistan hockey team or strong departmental teams during the training camp. These practice matches will be organised at the DHA hockey academy.
The schedule for these matches will be announced after the selection of the team. The Pakistan junior team will leave the country on May 20, and the training camp will be continued till the departure of the team.The Junior Asia Cup is a crucial tournament for the junior team, as it will test their skills against top-tier opponents and provide them with an opportunity to qualify for the Junior World Cup.
The tournament will also help the team management to identify potential talent and improve their training and development programs.In addition to the junior team, the PHF is also focusing on the development of hockey at the grassroots level. The federation has initiated various programs to promote hockey in schools and colleges and provide young players with the opportunity to showcase their skills and talent.
The PHF is also working on improving the infrastructure of hockey in Pakistan. They have initiated various programs to upgrade the facilities of hockey stadiums and provide better training facilities to the players.However, despite the PHF’s efforts, the decline of hockey in Pakistan is a cause of concern for the federation. The lack of support from the government, the absence of proper training facilities and equipment, and the lack of interest from the public are some of the reasons for the decline of hockey in the country.The federation needs the support of the government and private sector to revive hockey in Pakistan and restore the glory of the national team.
The government should allocate adequate funds for the federation to provide better training facilities and equipment to the players.In conclusion, the participation of the national team in the Asian Champions Trophy and the Junior Asia Cup is crucial for the development of hockey in Pakistan.
The tournaments will provide the team with an opportunity to test their skills against top-tier opponents and qualify for the Junior World Cup. The federation needs the support of the government and private sector to revive hockey in Pakistan and restore the glory of the national team