Pakistan Customs clinches National Under-18 Youth Hockey Championship 2026

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2026) The National Under-18 Youth Hockey Championship 2026 concluded on Sunday with an exciting final here at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium, Pakistan sports Complex.

The championship, organized as part of efforts to revive the national sport, featured 15 teams from across Pakistan.

In a thrilling final, Pakistan Customs defeated Punjab to lift the championship trophy. Earlier, Pakistan Army beat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to claim third place.

The chief guest of the ceremony was Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, who distributed awards to the players. He praised the Pakistan Hockey Federation for organizing the event after a long gap, saying, “The government stands with the PHF in its mission to revive hockey. The talent on display today gives hope that better days lie ahead for the sport.

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The ceremony was also attended by Pakistani hockey legends, including Shahnaz Sheikh, Hassan Sardar, Islahuddin Siddiqui, Samiullah Khan, Ayaz Mahmood, Naeem Akhtar, Qamar Ibrahim, Manzoor ul Hassan Sr., Nasir Ali, and several other Olympians.

In a significant announcement, PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani revealed that all Olympians will now be part of the national selection and management setup and will mentor both senior and junior teams ahead of upcoming international competitions, including the FIH Pro League and the World Cup.

He further announced that the National Under-18 Championship will become a permanent annual event on the PHF Calendar to ensure continuity in scouting and nurturing talent at the grassroots level.

To encourage the young athletes, cash prizes of Rs three million were distributed among the winning teams.