PHF Junior Super Hockey League rolls into action today

Staff Report

LAHORE: Lahore will be the hub of a major hockey activity when the 3rd PHF Junior Under-18 Super Hockey League will roll into action at National Hockey Stadium here on Wednesday (today). Addressing a news conference, Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary general Mohammad Asif Bajwa, flanked by tournament director Rana Mujahid, said the league offered a total cash prize of Rs 1.5 million and would be participated by eight teams. “The event will be played on league basis,” added Bajwa. The participating teams are Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Karachi, Quetta, PHF Academy, Peshawar and Multan.

He said the PHF was focusing on youth development by evolving maximum activity at grassroots level, which was evident from the formation of various junior strings in recent past. “This league is going to be a step forward to unearth fresh hockey talent to continue our quest for securing the future of the game by having a reservoir of talented players,” he maintained.

Rana Muajhid, who is also the manager of the Pakistan junior team, said Pakistan would defend their title during the Junior Asia Cup to be played from June 27 in Singapore. “We are confident to retain the title and to qualify for next year’s Junior World Cup which is our main target,” he said.

He praised the efforts of the PHF for reviving the game and called for organising more junior level events in other parts of the country. “This league is a platform to launch fresh talent and we are confident that Pakistan has a bright future in the game.” Mujahid said the winning team of the league would pocket a cash prize of Rs600,000, runners-up getting Rs400,000 and third position holders receiving Rs300,000 while Rs200,000 would be given to individual performers. Bajwa said the outstanding players of the league would put in a training camp to be organised in Karachi from May 12 with the trials on May 24-25 to finalise the team. Answering a question, Bajwa said the preparation for next year’s Olympics would get a big boost as the senior team would be playing 40-50 international matches in Asia, Europe and Australia by the end of this year. “A hectic activity programme awaits the senior team and by playing against different teams our side would be able to get into rhythm for the Olympics 2012,” he said.