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KARACHI: A total of 20 teams would be vying to for the title when the 62nd edition of the National Senior Hockey Championship commences from Friday at the Hockey Club of Pakistan in Karachi.
The event, which is being organised by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), includes teams from 15 departments, four provinces and Islamabad and played over 15 days, from December 25 to January 10, while PIA would enter the competition as defending champions.
The teams are divided into five pools containing four teams each. The top two teams from each group would progress to the quarter-finals, from where the remainder of the tournament would be played under floodlights.
“For the first time at the national level, teams will play under floodlights and will be provided with the latest technology of video referral system, which will aid in the decision-making for the umpires,” informed tournament director Qamar Ibrahim. “Lucrative cash prizes will also be given to the winner, runners-up and third-position holders while the top scorer and the best goalkeeper of the tournament would also be rewarded.”
Ibrahim also revealed that the main motive of the championship is to unearth young talent and for that purpose, a special three-member jury would be present at the matches to identify the best players from the tournament.
Meanwhile, a new blue astro-turf, which is used in international tournaments, has been installed at the Hockey Club of Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2015.
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