Youth Olympics training camp shifted to Edhi stadium

KARACHI: The hockey camp for the Youth Olympics qualifiers, originally scheduled to be held in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, will now be conducted at the Abdul Sattar Edhi stadium in Karachi.

The venue has been changed due to the big distance between the players’ accommodation in Islamabad and the training venue, Shahnaz Sheikh Hockey Stadium, in Rawalpindi. In Karachi, the players will reside and train at the same place.

The rooms here have been recently renovated and have good air conditioning facilities as well. The probable players have been directed to report to Kamran Ashraf, the coach of the national junior team, on April 1.

The Asian hockey qualifiers for the Youth Olympics are to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from April 25-29.The top two teams from these qualifiers will represent Asia at the Youth Olympics, which are scheduled in Buenos Aires from October 1-12.

Pakistan Hockey Federation has called 51 players to the camp.It is pertinent to mention here that the hockey event of the Youth Olympics is played on five-a-side format.The PHF has planned a five-a-side tournament for the camp trainees. The tournament will be held along with the training camp.

According to Qamar Ibrahim, the manager of Pakistan juniors, this tournament will help in assessing the players’ potential. The team selected will attend a short training camp before departing for Thailand.