The 68th National Men’s Senior Hockey Championship will be held at Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium
Lahore (Mustansar Khan) All PHF affiliated units and department would participate in the Championship.
This was announced by Pakistan Hockey Federation Secretary General Rana Mujahid in a press conference here on Tuesday. He said PHF is determined to provide maximum opportunities to the players to perform and improve their skill, stamina and temperament in highly competitive conditions. “The Federation is striving to uplift the standard of the national game in very difficult times. The organizing of Championship is a step towards our goal which would also provide youngsters chance to play with senior and experienced players enabling them to enhance their performance and confidence”, Rana opined and added that after a long time a big event is going to be held in the port city and the PHF would organize it in a befitting manner.
Rana Mujahid thanked Chief of the Army Staff Syed Asim Munir for taking personal interest in reviving 2nd COAS Inter Club National Championship. Rana also thanked Corps Commander Karachi for taking personal interest in handing over the control of Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium back to the rightful and genuine custodian of hockey in Pakistan.
The PHF Secretary General thanked Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bughti for his government’s timely grant of Rs. 50 millions that facilitated the PHF to send their senior and junior teams to participate in the Asian Champions Trophy in China and Junior Asian Championship in Oman. “It was difficult for the PHF to send teams to participate in these international tournaments and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bughti deserves my heartfelt thanks for his timely help enabling our teams to participate in these two important international events”, Rana said.
To a question, the PHF Secretary General opined that the he was satisfied with the performance of junior national team in the Junior World Cup and added that the team performed its best amid difficult conditions. “The players demonstrated their best skill and ability in the final against India. They came back after conceding three goals and were 3-3 at the end of third quart which boosted their morals and confidence. It was unfortunate that they couldn’t finish in the last quart”, Rana said and hoped that the junior players were an asset of national hockey who would bring laurels for Pakistan in near future.
When asked if the PHF would demand for a hybrid model in the forthcoming Junior World Cu to be held in India in December, 2025, the PHF Secretary General said it was premature to comment on this issue. “Let the time come the PHF would approach the government in Islamabad and follow its guidelines. “We shall see the affairs of the two governments which may be changed but in any case strictly follow the directives of the government. We should hope for the best”, Rana concluded.
