Hockey officials planning ahead

Junior team’s schedule prior to next year’s World Cup released.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is planning ahead for the Junior World Cup that takes place in Bangalore next year.

Pakistan qualified for the global event after their silver-medal feat in the Junior Asia Cup held in Malaysia recently. PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa, while praising the team’s show, confirmed that the squad will be sent to China for a four-nation event in August that kicks off the colts’ preparations for next year’s event.

Pakistan will also feature in a seven-nation tournament in November before taking part in the Junior Super Hockey League the month after. In addition, the PHF is also planning to host a four-nation event early next year after which the side will tour Europe in May and June.

Olympics squad after Europe tour

Meanwhile, Bajwa said the 16-man squad for the London Olympics will be named after a week-long training tour of Europe next month.

The national side will leave for London a couple of week before the Olympics to train at Cannock Hockey Club in Birmingham.

“We are also trying to arrange practice matches just before the Olympics,” said Bajwa. “For now, we have confirmed matches against Belgium in London.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2012.