PHF Launches Grassroots Hockey Drive in Punjab, 145 Rawalpindi Schools Receive Kits
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has taken another step towards rebuilding Pakistan’s hockey at the grassroots level, formally launching its school hockey development initiative in Punjab with the distribution of hockey kits among 145 schools in Rawalpindi.
This initiative, led by PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani in collaboration with the Punjab sports board and School education Department, aims to create and strengthen Under-15 hockey teams in schools, providing young players a better opportunity to learn and compete.
Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, IPC Secretary and PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, and legendary Olympian and World Cup champion Shahnaz Sheikh attended the ceremony and encouraged the young players taking their first steps in the sport. Former Pakistan captain and World Cup champion Olympian Nasir Ali and PSB Deputy Director General Shahid-ul-Islam were also present.
Officials from the Punjab School Education Department, Rawalpindi Hockey Association, hockey coaches, players, and a large number of hockey supporters attended the ceremony.
The PHF plans to take the initiative further with the Under-15 National Hockey Championship in January 2027, providing school-level players a national platform to test their skills against the best young talent from across the country.
Subsequent phases will see hockey kits distributed and the initiative expanded to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Faisalabad, followed by South Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan.
The PHF stated that the purpose of this initiative is not merely to distribute equipment but to bring children closer to hockey, provide them with regular coaching, and create a system through which talented players can be identified and developed from a young age. They believe that a strong national team can only be built when the foundation is solid. By reintroducing hockey in schools, the PHF aims to establish a steady pipeline of young talent capable of representing Pakistan at the highest level in future years.
With this program’s launch, a new path from school hockey to the national team is beginning to take shape.
