PHF revives women’s hockey with U-21 Championship and global return
By Nawaz Gohar ; The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has achieved a significant milestone in reviving women’s sports by successfully organizing the ‘National Under-21 Women’s Hockey Championship’ in Islamabad, the first event of its scale in over a decade.
The tournament featured nearly 300 talented young athletes representing 16 teams from across the country, signaling a historic step forward for the sport.
During the domestic championship, the PHF received an emergency invitation from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to field a junior women’s team at an international tournament in Oman. Despite a critical shortage of time, the federation finalized team selection within three to four days and dispatched the squad.
Although the players had minimal time to train together or build tactical combinations, they showcased immense grit and determination on the field. While the overall match results did not favor Pakistan, the individual performances were highly encouraging, with Pakistani players securing the ‘Player of the Match’ award in two of their four fixtures.
Reaffirming its long-term commitment to women’s sports development, the PHF has formally requested the FIH to provide specialized mentors and expert coaches for its junior ranks. Concurrently, Pakistan’s National High-Performance coaching team is set to initiate sustained training and mentorship camps across the country.
Looking ahead, a PHF spokesperson termed this initiative as just the beginning, announcing ambitious plans to double the tournament’s scope to 32 regional teams for the next edition to maximize grassroots opportunities for aspiring female athletes.
