LAHORE (Kashmir English): The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced the launch of a nationwide National Under-15 School Hockey Championship and Talent Hunt Program aimed at promoting hockey at the grassroots level and identifying talented young players across the country.
In a press release, the hockey federation said that the Hockey Championship and Talent Hunt Programme will be organised in collaboration with Provincial Sports Departments, School Education Departments, the Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), and all Provincial Educational Boards.
It stated that the programme seeks to promote hockey at the school level, identify talented boys and girls, develop a broad national talent pool and establish a structured pathway from school-level hockey to the national teams.
Under the programme, 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 press release added.
At the conclusion of the regional championships, four teams each from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with two teams each from Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), will qualify for the national competition in Islamabad in February 2027. The same selection process will apply to both boys and girls.
“PHF selectors and reputable coaches will carefully review the technical skills, fitness and performance of the players and prepare a national database.”
A spokesperson for the Pakistan Hockey Federation said the first three teams in the national championship will be given trophies, medals and development assistance. In addition, special individual awards will also be announced for the best player, best goalkeeper, best defender, best midfielder and best forward.
At the end of the tournament, a wide “national talent pool” will be established consisting of the best boys and girls from across the country, not limited to the winning teams.
Based on this pool, the Pakistan Under-15 Boys Team and the Pakistan Under-15 Girls Team will be selected, while other players will be reserved for the future.
