Youth hockey players will receive monthly stipends and chances to travel internationally under a nationwide Schools Hockey League announced by the Pakistan Hockey Federation on November 15.
This competition seeks to rebuild the sport from the grassroots and build a deeper talent pool for national squads in Pakistan.
Simultaneous tehsil, district, and divisional matches will kick off the tournament nationwide, leading into provincial contests in January and the national finals in February.
IPC Secretary and PHF chief Mohiyuddin Ahmed Wani led a consultative meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss this program. Officials from sports and education ministries across all four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad Capital Territory participated.
Wani asked leaders to treat this rollout as a national duty, pointing to past victories and the status of hockey as the national sport.
PHF focal person Ehtasham Anwar explained the operational details and format to the attendees. The PHF will run the league through a specialized chief executive officer and a steering committee directed by the president of the federation.
Participants on the top three squads will earn yearly monthly stipends of Rs. 10,000, Rs. 7,500, and Rs. 5,000 in that order. Champions and chosen athletes will additionally gain chances for overseas trips.
Special honors will also go to school principals and physical education teachers for their efforts.
To blend academics with athletics, an annual selection of 100 boys and 100 girls will attend summer camps featuring hockey instruction, physical conditioning, and school lessons.
This program should boost student involvement, especially among girls, and build a clear route for youth athletes to reach national teams.
Officials representing regional and federal bodies promised full support and voted to match their sports calendars with the tournament dates.
