National hockey event begins in Sukkur today

LAHORE: The premier domestic tournament of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, the National Hockey Championships, will start in Sukkur from Saturday.

Syed Khursheed Shah, the opposition leader in the National Assembly, will inaugurate the 64th National Championships to be participated by 16 departmental and 8 provincial teams. The departmental teams have been placed in four pools while the provincial sides will compete in two other pools.

It is worth mentioning that two departmental teams, Fauji Fertilisers and ZTBL are making their maiden appearance in these Nationals. It was through the personal interest and efforts of President PHF, Brig (rtd) Khalid Khokhar that the management of these departments agreed to raise their hockey teams. The two outfits have employed a number of promising youngsters including some members of Pakistan’s junior national team.

Departmental teams includes PIA (defending Champions), Army, Customs, PTV, National Bank, Police, Port Qasim Authority, Fauji Fertilisers, Sui Southern Gas Company, Railways, Navy, ZTBL, WAPDA, Sui Northern Gas Pakistan Limited, Higher Education Commission, Air Force. The provincial teams are Punjab, Sindh, KPK, Baluchistan, Islamabad, AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan & FATA. On the opening day, FATA will play Gilgit-Baltistan, Baluchistan take on AJK, Port Qasim meet Police while SNGPL to clash with HEC, Customs collide with Army and ZTBL vs Navy.