PHF revival drive gives Pakistan girls' hockey a fresh start

KARACHI: Just weeks after many of them had never imagined wearing the Pakistan jersey, the country's young female hockey players are now competing on the international stage.

Their journey to the AHF Under-18 and Under-21 5-a-side Hockey Championships in Oman is more than just another sporting story. 

It is a tale of administrative urgency, opportunity earned on merit and renewed efforts by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to revive women's hockey in the country.

The revival campaign began with the National Under-21 Girls' Hockey Championship in Islamabad. Initially, only five or six teams were expected to take part.

However, the tournament attracted 16 teams and more than 300 players from across Pakistan, including representatives from Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Balochistan and various local hockey academies.

According to the PHF, the championship was organised to identify emerging talent and create a wider pathway for female players who had long lacked opportunities to compete at the national level.

While the tournament was still under way, Pakistan received an invitation to participate in the AHF Under-18 and Under-21 5-a-side Hockey Championships in Oman.

The invitation presented a valuable opportunity but also highlighted a significant challenge.

According to the PHF, around 70% of the selected players did not possess passports, B-Forms or other essential identity documents required for international travel.

With little time remaining before departure, the federation launched an emergency drive, coordinating with NADRA, the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports and other government departments to complete the documentation process.

In one case, special arrangements were made to finalise a player's paperwork by facilitating her mother's biometric verification.

Within 24 to 36 hours, passports were issued, visas secured, travel tickets booked and player allowances arranged, enabling both teams to travel to Oman in time for the tournament.

The collective effort ensured Pakistan did not miss the opportunity to return to international women's hockey, with the Green Shirts making an immediate impact in Oman. Pakistan captain Shariqa was named Player of the Match in the opening fixture against Hong Kong China, providing an early reward for the federation's efforts.

PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani has described women's hockey as one of the federation's key development priorities. Officials say the recent championship marks only the beginning of a broader programme aimed at rebuilding the women's game.

The federation plans to expand the women's player pool from more than 300 to around 500 athletes over the next year.

It also intends to launch an Under-15 Girls' Hockey Championship, organise additional regional competitions and establish high-performance camps supported by foreign technical, fitness, goalkeeping and sports psychology experts.

For years, women's hockey in Pakistan has struggled with limited competitions and a lack of structured development. The federation's latest initiatives reflect a renewed commitment to rebuilding that pathway, giving talented young players from across the country the opportunity to represent Pakistan on merit.

Whether that momentum can be sustained remains to be seen. However, for the girls who only recently lacked the documents needed to travel abroad, representing Pakistan on the international stage already marks a significant milestone in the revival of women's hockey.