ISLAMABAD: KPK teams made an early impression as the National Under-18 Hockey Championship kicked off Thursday at the Bunda Ground, Islamabad.
KPK 2 overwhelmed Gilgit Baltistan 10-1 while KPK 1 defeated Punjab 1, 4-0. In the day’s last match, Customs edged out Punjab 4, 2-1. KPK 2 delivered a commanding performance, thrashing Gilgit-Baltistan 10-1. Qasim led the charge with a brilliant hat-trick, while Sudais added two goals. Muzammil, Owais, Haris, Waqas and Sameema contributed one goal each. Mustafeen scored the lone consolation goal for Gilgit-Baltistan. The second match saw KPK 1 continue the province’s dominance with a convincing 4-0 victory over Punjab 1. Uzair struck twice, while Abbas and Zain added one goal apiece in a one-sided affair.
In the third match of the day, Customs edged past Punjab 4 in a closely contested battle, winning 2-1. Hasnain and Adeel found the net for Pak Customs, while Abdullah Farooq scored the solitary goal for Punjab. The 16 participating teams have been divided into four pools. Pool A comprises Pak Customs, KPK 2, Punjab 4 and Gilgit-Baltistan. Pool B includes Punjab 1, Sindh 2, Balochistan and KPK 1. Pool C features Police, Punjab 2, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Islamabad. Pool D consists of Pak Education Board, Sindh 1, Punjab 3 and Pak Army.
Secretary Inter Provincial Coordination and President Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani inaugurated the Championship. peaking at the inaugural ceremony, the PHF President emphasized the importance of nurturing young talent at the grassroots level. He reiterated the federation’s commitment to improving hockey infrastructure and modernizing coaching standards across the country. He expressed optimism that the championship would produce high-quality competition and help revive Pakistan’s glorious hockey legacy by identifying and grooming future stars.
