Women’s team pulls out of tournament

Lack of eligible hockey players forces officials to cancel participation.

LAHORE:

Pakistan women’s hockey team has pulled out of the 3rd Women’s Junior AHF Cup owning to non-availability of under-18 players.

A camp was in progress in Lahore but majority of the players were over-18 forcing the PHF with no choice but to pull out of the tournament that will be held in Bangkok from June 4.

“We have to work very hard at the grass-root level to bring women in hockey,” said coach Mohammad. “We called 31 players for the camp but only 19 turned up. We can’t compete with an incomplete squad.”

Mohammad had termed taking part in the tournament an experience enough for the players with any wins coming their way a ‘great achievement’.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2011.