Grassroots Level Hockey Development Initiative Ceremony Held
ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Sep, 2026)
Under the directives of Pakistan Hockey Federation President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, a prestigious ceremony was held in Mansehra as part of the "Grassroots Level Hockey Development Initiative."
During the event, hockey equipment and complete kit bags were distributed among Under-15 teams from over 24 government schools spanning District Mansehra to Kaghan. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Pakistan Hockey Federation, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Board, Department of Education, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hockey Association aimed at establishing and strengthening Under-15 school hockey teams across various institutions in Mansehra.
Additional Secretary IPC Zaka Ullah Khattak attended as the Chief Guest, while Deputy Commissioner Mansehra Khalid Iqbal Khattak served as the Guest of Honour, both praising the young athletes.
The ceremony was attended by:
- PHF Selection Committee Member Olympian Naeem Akhtar
- Chief Coach Directorate General of Sports KP Shafqat Ullah
- District Education Officer
- District Sports Officer
- Principal GHHS No. 01 Mansehra
- Olympians
- Representatives of PHF and the Provincial Hockey Association
- A large number of sports enthusiasts, coaches, and players.
Speaking on the occasion, officials announced the upcoming "Under-15 National Hockey Championship" scheduled for January 2027. Future phases of the project will expand equipment distribution and program scope to other KP districts—including Abbottabad—as well as Faisalabad, South Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan.
The primary objective of this initiative is to encourage children to embrace hockey from a young age, provide structured training, and nurture talent from the grassroots level to strengthen the national team. Participants, school administrators, and sports authorities praised this effort by the Pakistan Hockey Federation and the government, describing it as a significant step towards reviving the nation's beloved sport.