Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Top women hockey teams of the country will showcase their talent and technique in the 29th edition of the National Women Hockey Championship which rolls into action from August 5 at Naseer Bunda hockey stadium Islamabad. In this competition as many as 11 teams are participating, WAPDA is likely to defend the title for the fourth time in a row , said a spokesman of Pakistan Hockey Federation while talking to media on Tuesday. The other participating teams are Railways, Army, HEC, Punjab Colours, Punjab Whites, Sind Colours, Sindh Whites, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Islamabad. A keen competition will be witnessed during the event as all the teams are preparing hard in their respective training camps which are in final stage. Railways, the runners up of the last event, is all set to throw a tough challenge to the holders, he asserted.

The teams are divided into two pools. The top two sides from each pool will qualify for the semi-finals. “PHF will encourage the outstanding players by awarding them special prizes”, he said adding “There are awards for the Best Player, Best Goal keeper and Top scorer.” The event will serve as trials for the next assignment of the national team the 4th Women’s Asian Hockey Federation Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, to be held from October 1 to 9. PHF selection committee comprising decorated former Olympians, Saleem Sherwani and Mussadiq Hussain and representative of PHF women wing Chand Parveen will watch the players in action. Saeed Khan and Mohammad Usman, who have been named manager and coach respectively for the national women team, will also be in attendance. Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination, Mr Riaz Peerzada is expected to be the chief guest for the final on August 12.