National hockey championship draws today

KARACHI: The PHF is trying its best to give a handsome amount of prize money in the national hockey championship, scheduled to be held in Sukkur, from December 16-30.

To boost the performance of the players, individual prizes will also be given, a PHF high official told The News on Thursday. The PHF source said that they would announce the prize money on the opening day of the championship. “I can confirm, however, that Rs5000 cash will be awarded to player of the match in each match,” he added.

The draws will be announced on Friday (today). Prizes will be given to the highest goal scorer, the best goalkeeper, the best forward, the best defender, the best flicker of PC, and the best emerging player.

The PHF is facing some difficulties in organising the championship in Sukkur as it is the first time that any national-level championship is being played there. It hopes that with the collaboration of Sindh government and the local administration of Sukkur, it will overcome the problems.

“It is a big occasion that our national game is being organised in Sukkur, which has a venue with a new synthetic turf as well as floodlights facilities,” a PHF high official said. “The use of the new turf will help spread hockey at the grassroots level,” he added.

The PHF sources said the individual prizes were aimed to attract the best players for different positions for the coming international events. Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who announced last month a handsome amount in annual grant for PHF for the promotion of hockey, will be the chief guest at the concluding ceremony.

The PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmed said that Shafiq Bhatti will be the Tournament Director (TD) and Sindh Hockey Association’s (SHA) Ramzan Jamali will be the chairman of the organising committee.

He said that PHF was also organising a three-day workshop for coaches, umpires and technical officials. Experienced hockey officials will deliver lectures.The panel of umpires for the championship includes those who have officiated at international and domestic levels. This will give emerging umpires an opportunity to gain experience.

The director development and domestic of PHF Naveed Alam said that 16 teams would represent departments. The other teams will represent the provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad, and FATA.