Boys Hockey Trials Of Swat Region Under Prime Minister Youth Talent Hunt Begins

SWAT, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Oct, 2022 ) :A total of 210 young aspirants of hockey turned up for a two-day boys hockey trials under the Prime Minister Youth Talent Hunt Project which got underway here at Makhan Bagh Hockey Stadium on Friday.

All the 210 players, out of 83 had their online registration and the rest did their spot registration for the boys trials of Malakand Region including Dir Upper, Dir Lower, Swat, Buner turned up wherein the selection committee headed by former hockey Olympian Rahim Khan, international hockey player and Director Sports and Physical education Waqas Ahmad, Zia Ur Rehman Banori, and President Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hockey Association Syed Zahir Shah, Deputy Director Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University (SSBWU) Mariyyah Samin and Director Distance Education Dr. Noor Zada have thoroughly monitored performances of the players before short-listing them.

There were 83 boys players who had their online registration and the rest had their on the spot registration wherein they went through different sessions and the selection committee witnessed their performances during the trials.

Dr. Laiqat Ali Khan of Buner, Engr. Arif Rawan, Coordinator Youth Program for KP graced the occasion as guest, Coordinator for HEC former international athlete and DG Sports University of Peshawar Bahre Karam, Deputy Director Sports SBBWU Mariyyah Samin Jan, Director Distance System Education Dr.

Noorzada, Professor Adalat Khan of Jehanzeb College, Professor Dr. Arif Khan were also present.

Engr. Arif Rawan lauded the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for launching such a Youth Talent Hunt Program at grassroots level. Arif Rawan said KP has been divided in four different zones including Swat, Hazara, Mardan, Peshawar, and Bannu wherein both boys and girls trials are continued which help in searching new talent from all across the country including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said in the first phase, a total of 25 players each for all regions would be short-listed for the camp, following with the League event and in the final phase a bunch of 25 players would be selected for the one month international training in each Games.

Arif Rawan said that in the light of Prime Minister instructions, steps are being taken to promote sports across the country. He appreciated the Higher Education Commission and University of Peshawar for facilitating boys for the trials in different games including hockey.

He said that for the promotion of national game hockey, such steps are key for regaining the lost glory again but without hard work of the players and extending them modern day facilities we could not rank among top teams of the world. The government, he said, should take strong measures to promote this game at the school level.