K-P hosts senior hockey trials with strong turnout of 155 players

National selectors stress revival of grassroots hockey and lack of facilities as key challenges

PESHAWAR:

 Senior hockey team trials were held in Peshawar on Thursday, drawing participation from 155 players across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, reflecting continued interest in the sport despite longstanding challenges.

The trials took place at Lala Ayub Hockey Stadium, located within the Peshawar Sports Complex. Chief Selector of the national hockey team, Samiullah Khan, supervised the process alongside members of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) selection committee. Prominent Olympians and former players, including Nasir Ali, Naeem Akhtar, Ayaz Mahmood, Atif Bashir, Shakeel Abbasi and Kashif Jawad, were also present.

Speaking to reporters, Samiullah Khan highlighted the decline of hockey at the grassroots level, noting that schools once played a vital role in nurturing talent. “In the past, hockey was actively played at the school level, which was the golden era of Pakistan hockey. Unfortunately, that system no longer exists,” he said.

He pointed out the lack of basic sports infrastructure, citing a recent visit to Karachi’s Sohrab Goth area where only a single school had a hockey ground. “There are over 18,000 schools in Karachi, but very few have proper sports facilities,” he added, emphasizing that hockey now survives mainly in Punjab and parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Samiullah also underscored financial constraints faced by players, including the lack of employment opportunities and funding, which he said discourages young athletes from pursuing the sport professionally.
Despite these challenges, he acknowledged that districts such as Bannu, Swat and Mardan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa continue to produce hockey talent, keeping the sport alive in the province.

A member of the selection committee said the trials in Peshawar are part of a broader evaluation process, adding that final results will be announced after thorough assessment of players’ performance and feedback from selectors.