National U-21 Hockey Championship begins

In the absence of Pakistan Customs and PIA, National U-21 Hockey Championship will get underway at National Hockey Stadium from Tuesday (today). Pool 'A' is comprised of National Bank of Pakistan, Fata, Army, Islamabad while Pool 'B' consists PHF Academy, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, SSGC, Sindh. In Pool C, Wapda, Punjab White, Higher Education Commission, Balochistan are included while Pool 'D' comprises Railways, Pak Boards and Punjab Colour.
Organising Secretary of the championship, Rana Mujahid, who is the also the secretary of Punjab Hockey Association told reporters here on Monday that they have not got any information regarding absence of PIA and customs from the event. However, he opined that both are without their junior teams and that is why they have stayed away from the competition. The organising secretary of the national selection committee will watch the event to short list outstanding players to consider them for attending national junior training camp.
Following is the match programme of first round, which ends on January 15 with second round commencing from January 16: January 10, NBP vs Fata, Railways vs Pak Boards, PHF Academy vs KP, Wapda vs Punjab W. January 11, Army vs Islamabad, SSGC vs Sindh, HEC vs Balochistan, Pak Board vs Punjab C. January 12, PHF academy vs SSGC, Wapda vs HEC,Army vs Fata, Wapda vs Balochistan. January 13, PHF Academy vs Sindh, NBP vs Islamabad, KPK vs SSGC January 14, KPK vs SSGC, Army vs NBP, HEC vs Punjab W, Railways vs Punjab C. January 15, Sindh vs KP, Fata vs Islamabad, Punjab W vs Balochistan.