Web Desk: The Pakistan Hockey Federation has launched a school-based development programme in Punjab as part of efforts to rebuild the sport’s grassroots structure and create a new generation of players.
Under the initiative, the PHF distributed hockey kits to 145 schools in Rawalpindi, with the programme aimed at establishing and strengthening Under-15 teams and giving young players greater access to coaching and competitive hockey.
PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani is leading the programme in partnership with the Punjab Sports Board and the School Education Department.
Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, Inter-Provincial Coordination Secretary and PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, and former Olympian and World Cup champion Shahnaz Sheikh attended the launch ceremony.
Former Pakistan captain and World Cup-winning Olympian Nasir Ali, along with Punjab Sports Board Deputy Director General Shahid-ul-Islam, was also present.
Officials from the Punjab School Education Department, the Rawalpindi Hockey Association, coaches, players and hockey supporters attended the event and encouraged students participating in the programme.
The federation plans to build on the school programme by holding an Under-15 National Hockey Championship in January 2027.
The tournament is expected to provide school-level players with an opportunity to compete on a national stage and measure their abilities against some of the country’s best young hockey talent.
Meanwhile, the PHF plans to expand the initiative beyond Rawalpindi. The next phase will include the distribution of hockey equipment and programme expansion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Faisalabad, followed by South Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.
The PHF said the programme goes beyond supplying schools with hockey equipment. Instead, it aims to reconnect children with the sport, establish regular coaching opportunities and identify promising players at an early age.
The federation believes Pakistan’s senior hockey team can only regain strength by developing a solid grassroots system. By returning hockey to schools, the PHF hopes to establish a consistent pathway through which young players can progress from school competitions to the national side.
With the programme now underway, Pakistan’s hockey authorities are seeking to build a sustainable talent pipeline that can produce players capable of representing the country at the highest level in the years ahead.
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