Pakistan Customs claim U-18 Youth Hockey Championship title
By Nawaz Gohar ; The National U-18 Youth Hockey Championship 2026 reached a spectacular conclusion on Sunday at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex, with Pakistan Customs emerging as the tournament champions.
The championship, organized as a pivotal step toward the revival of the national sport, featured 15 teams from across the country competing for the top prize.
In a high-octane final, Pakistan Customs defeated Punjab to secure the championship trophy. Earlier in the day, Pakistan Army clinched the third-place position after a hard-fought victory over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).
The Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, graced the occasion as the chief guest and distributed prizes among the players. Commending the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for organizing the event after a long hiatus, the Minister stated, “The government stands firmly with the PHF in its mission to revive hockey. The talent witnessed today gives us immense hope that the golden era of Pakistan hockey is returning.”
The event was attended by a “galaxy of legends,” including iconic Olympians Shahnaz Sheikh, Hassan Sardar, Islahuddin Siddiqui, Samiullah Khan, Ayaz Mahmood, Naeem Akhtar, Qamar Ibrahim, Manzoor-ul-Hassan Sr., and Nasir Ali, among others.
In a landmark development, PHF President Muhyuddin Ahmad Wani announced that these legendary Olympians have officially been integrated into the national selection and management setup. They will now provide strategic guidance to both senior and junior national teams for upcoming international fixtures, including the FIH Pro League and the World Cup.
President Wani further declared that the National U-18 Championship would now become a permanent annual fixture on the PHF calendar to ensure the continuous scouting and nurturing of talent at the grassroots level. To boost the morale of the young athletes, a total of 3 million PKR in prize money was distributed among the winning teams.
This championship has ignited a fresh wave of enthusiasm for hockey at the grassroots level, marking a significant stride toward restoring the lost glory of Pakistan’s national sport.
