All 59 players report for junior hockey training camp

KARACHI: All 59 probable players reported at National Hockey Stadium at the juniors training camp on Sunday. The formal training sessions start from Monday (today).

PHF secretary Asif Bajwatold ‘The News’ that training would be conducted in three sessions in a day. During the morning session focus would be on physical training. During the second session, trainers would train the players individually. The goalkeepers would get training separately, and the penalty corner specialists would practise drag flicks, he said.

The PHF has appointed Pakistan’s former captain Muhammad Imran as the assistant coach of the national junior hockey team. He was a penalty corner specialist in his playing days.

Bajwa said that in evening sessions the players would get training of match practice. He said that the chairman selection committee Manzoor Junior would visit the training camp to short-list the players, keeping in mind the progress of the training camp. He said that Olympian Nasir Ahmed would be the goalkeepers’ coach.

The PHF secretary said that after two weeks rigorous training, ten days rest would be given to the boys. It is yet to be decided when and where the second phase of the training camp will be held. Pakistan are to play Junior Asia Cup 2020 in June in Bangladesh, which is also the qualifying round for the Junior World Cup 2021. The four semi-finalists will qualify for the World Cup.