PESHAWAR
Women and Men Hockey trials under Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif Youth Talent Hunt Program got under way simultaneously held at two different venues at the Astro-Turf of the Islamia College Ground for Men and Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex Charsadda for Women.
Ex-MPA Amina Sardan of PML (N), Focal Person of the PML (N) Women Wing Ms. Faiza Malik Advocate, Project Director Prime Minister Youth Talent Hunt Rafaqat Ali Naz, Coordinator Youth Affairs for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Engr. Muhammad Arif Rawan, President KP Hockey Association Syed Zahir Shah, Member Selection Committee Zia Ur Rehman Binori, Asif Islam and Ms. Sadaf of the University of Rawalpindi, Deputy Director Sports Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Maria Samin Jan, AD and Game Coordinator Ms. Rozneen, Miss Najma Qazi were also present. Director Sports UoP Bahre Karam and Maria Samin Jan are supervising the two-day hockey Men and Women trials at two different venues – Islamia College University Hockey ground and Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex, Charsadda.
Speaking on this occasion, former Member of Provincial Assembly and President PML-N Women’s Youth Wing Amina Sardar, said that it is heartening to see the large number of girls in the women’s hockey trials today in the Prime Minister’s Youth Talent Hunt program.
“I am grateful for organizing such an excellent event, because through such activities the hidden talent of these children can be revealed and the name of the country and the nation can be brought to light. She said that in today’s social media era, it is commendable to attract girls towards positive activities and to populate sports fields.
Project Director HEC Rafafat Ali Naz said that the prime objective of the Prime Minister Talent Hunt program is to find out new talent across the country.
The program includes 12 men’s and 10 women’s games and the hockey event is also a part of it.
He said that the HEC is trying its best to ensure the selection of athletes on the basis of merit in these games because selection on merit alone can provide opportunities to win medals at the national and international levels.
He said that it is hoped that by organizing the Prime Minister’s Youth Talent Hunt program, new talent will emerge who will be able to go ahead and make the country and the nation shine.
Engr. Arif Rawan said that both Men and Women players in the age of 15-year to 25-year of age would be eligible to participate.
He said it was the efforts of Engr. Amir Muqam, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Political and Public Affairs, Heritage, Culture and Sports Division who wants to bring the youth of the country toward healthy sports activities.
A trials committee headed by Maria Samin (Female), Olympian Rahim Khan and two members from Central Punjab University and Punjab University.
Maria Samin, Deputy Director Sports Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, nominated by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) as head of the Women Hockey trials under Prime Minister Youth Talent Hunt Program for KP while Bahre Karam would overall head all affairs.
Arif Rawan said that soon after the trials Prime Minister Youth Hockey League would also be conducted first at the provincial level wherein all the selected players from Bannu, Peshawar, Mardan, Hazara and Swat would make a team to represent KP in the National Hockey League later on at national level.
He said 25 Region teams are taking part from across Pakistan. Apart from hockey, trials would also be organized in Table Tennis (Male, Female), Badminton (Male, Female), Volleyball (Male, Female), Cricket (Male, Female), Squash (Male, Female), Judo (Male, Female) on different dates.
