Hockey
Johor Cup 2025: Great Britain beat Pakistan 5-1
Islamabad (Sports Desk): Great Britain beat Pakistan 5-1 in the 13th Sultan of Johor Cup 2025 being held in Johor, Malaysia.Pakistan started the game with an impressive performance but, unfortunately, missed several clear goal opportunities. On the other hand, Great Britain outplayed Pakistan, scoring five goals to Pakistan’s one. For Great Britain, Jonny and Henry scored two goals each, while Caddy scored one. Pakistan only goal came from Mohammad Sufyan Khan through a penalty corner.The Pakistan Junior Hockey Team will play its third match against traditional rivals India on October 14, fourth match against New Zealand on October 15, and fifth match against Australia on October 17.
Junior World Cup: Pakistan outclass Malaysia 7-2
Sports Bulletin ReportJohor (Malaysia): Pakistan stunned hosts Malaysia 7-2 in their opening match of the 13th Sultan of Johor Cup 2025 being played in Johor, Malaysia.Penalty corner specialist Mohammad Sufyan Khan delivered an outstanding performance, scoring three goals through penalty corners to complete a hat-trick, and was declared Man of the Match.From Pakistan’s side, Mohammad Sufyan Khan opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a penalty corner, and added another goal in the 21st minute, also from a penalty corner. The third goal was scored by captain Abdul Hannan Shahid in the 30th minute, the fourth by Nadeem Khan in the 32nd minute, the fifth again by Mohammad Sufyan Khan in the 34th minute, the sixth by Nadeem Khan in the 44th minute, and the seventh by Hamza Fayyaz in the 52nd minute. For Malaysia, Ammar and Azeemuddin scored one goal each.Upcoming Fixtures:12 October: Great Britain vs Pakistan14 October: Pakistan vs India15 October: New Zealand vs Pakistan17 October: Pakistan vs Australia
Chief of Naval Staff Hockey Tournament: Navy claim the title
Navy overcome Mari Energies on penalty shoot-out in a nerve-jangling finalAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy have won the title of the 4th Chief of the Naval Staff All Pakistan Hockey Tournament after overcoming Mari Energies on penalty shoot-out in the final, as the match was levelled 2-2 during the 60 minutes at National Hockey Stadium Lahore on Saturday.Both teams displayed top-quality hockey in all four quarters, and spectators enjoyed their game skills in the thrilling contest. Saifullah and Rana Waleed scored goals for Pakistan Navy, while Sufyan Khan and Arshad Liaqat scored goals for Mari Energies.The match ended with the scoreline of 2-2. Navy got the victory on penalty shoot-out, as Nauman Janjua and Zikria Hayat scored goals for Navy. Rana Waleed was judged the best player of the match, while Abdullah Ishtiaq and Ahmed Nadeem received the awards for best goalkeeper and best scorer of the tournament, respectively.Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf graced the final as a chief guest and distributed the prizes among the players. The Naval Chief congratulated the winning team and appreciated the services of Commander Central Punjab, and Pakistan Hockey Federation for the splendid organization of the tournament.The chief guest distributed prizes among the winning team and the best players. Zakaria Hayat of Pakistan Navy was adjudged the best player of the tournament, while Ahmed Nadeem and Abdullah Ishtiaq of Mari Energies were awarded the best scorer and best goalkeeper respectively.
CNS Hockey: NBP, Port Qasim share spoils as Army power past Rangers
LAHORE (SBR): Thrilling hockey action continued at the 4th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) All Pakistan Hockey Tournament 2025, held at the National Hockey Stadium, Lahore on Wednesday, with two fiercely contested matches showcasing skill, speed, and strategy. Match 1: Port Qasim and NBP play out exciting 3-3 drawThe opening match of the day saw Port Qasim Authority and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) battle to a 3-3 draw in a nail-biting encounter that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. Aleem Usman was the standout for Port Qasim, scoring a brilliant brace, while Amjad added a crucial third to keep them in the fight. For NBP, Faizan continued his fine form with two well-taken goals, and Aamir chipped in with one to level the scores. Despite chances for both sides to snatch victory, tight defending and some heroic saves kept the scoreboard even. For his commanding presence and critical saves between the posts, Mazhar Abbas (NBP) was named man of the match. Match 2: Pakistan Army overpower Rangers 5-2In the second game, Pakistan Army showcased their dominance with a commanding 5-2 victory over Pakistan Rangers, asserting their strength as serious contenders in the tournament. Army’s scoring was spread across five players, Shahzad, Ahmed Sarwar, Usman, Saaifullah, and Wasim Akram, each finding the net once in a well-rounded team performance. Rangers showed flashes of brilliance through Ammar and Hamid Ali, who managed to score one goal each, but were ultimately outpaced by the Army’s relentless attack. The man of the match honor went to Zain Farooq, who anchored Army’s midfield with composure and creativity, playing a pivotal role in controlling the tempo of the game.
CNS Hockey: Mari Energies outclass PAF: Customs and Navy play draw
Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The 4th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) All Pakistan Hockey Tournament 2025 produced an action-packed day at the National Hockey Stadium, Lahore, on Tuesday, featuring a dominant performance by Mari Energies and a breathtaking goal-fest between Customs and Pakistan Navy. In the opening match of the day, Mari Energies outclassed PAF 5-2 with a commanding display of attacking hockey. Star forward Ahmed Nadeem led from the front with a brilliant brace, while Waseem Akram, Sufiyan Khan and Ghanzfar Ali added one goal each to seal a comprehensive victory. Although PAF showed glimpses of resistance through goals from Zaheer Hussain and Abdul Manan, they were unable to contain Mari Energies’ relentless offensive pressure. The second match turned into a spectacle as Customs and Navy battled to a sensational 4-4 draw, providing fans with a thrilling end-to-end contest. Customs’ Amad stole the spotlight with two goals, with Samilullah and Shehzab also getting on the scoresheet. Pakistan Navy responded in equal measure, thanks to strikes from Rana Waleed, Hanan Shaid, Zikriya and Bisaharat, ensuring an evenly poised finish. Both sides displayed remarkable fighting spirit, refusing to concede till the final whistle, making it one of the most entertaining games of the tournament so far. Wednesday’s (Matches):NBP vs Port QasimRangers vs Army
Road to FIH Hockey World Cup 2026: Women’s Asia Cup Preview
Islamabad (Sports Desk): Starting from 5 September, Gongshu, China will play host to the Women’s Asia Cup 2025 - Asia’s premier hockey women’s tournament running from 5-14 September - with the champions punching their ticket to the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026.The tournament will feature 8 teams, split into Pool A & B. The top two from each pool will advance to a Super 4s pool stage, where the teams will compete in a secondary pool and get ranked from one to four. The semi-finals line-up will be decided on the basis of the secondary pool results, while the bottom two teams from each pool, of the first pool stage, will play for classifications and world ranking points.Pool A: China, Chinese Taipei, Korea, MalaysiaPool B: India, Japan, Thailand, SingaporeThe tournament will begin the competition with Pool B action on 5 September, as Japan will take on Singapore in the first match followed by India taking on Thailand. Pool A matches will follow as all 8 teams will take the field on opening day. Korea vs Chinese Taipei will get Pool A underway before the final match of the day will pit hosts China against Malaysia. The initial pool stage for the women’s competition will be played from 5 to 8 September, followed by the secondary pool stage, positional playoffs and medal matches being played from 10-14 September.The winner of the women’s competition will earn a coveted spot at the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026. Six teams have now qualified for the women’s competition at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. Belgium and Netherlands, on account of being hosts of the event, gained direct qualification. Germany and Argentina qualified through the previous two editions of the FIH Hockey Pro League. USA secured qualification through the Pan American Cup and Spain qualified from the Eurohockey Championship. Along with Asia, continental championships in Africa and Oceania will determine three direct qualifiers for the event, with the remaining seven teams qualifying through the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in 2026.Based on their performance at the Pan American Cup and the EuroHockey Championships, the following women’s teams have qualified for the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026: Uruguay, Chile, Canada, Ireland, England, France, Italy, Wales, Scotland, Austria and Switzerland, with with four further sides qualifying from the upcoming Asia Cup and one from the Oceania Cup.
HOCKEY - FIH Pro League 28 Aug, 2025
Sports Bulletin ReportLausanne (Switzerland): The International Hockey Federation (FIH) can confirm that the Pakistan men’s hockey team, nicknamed the Green Shirts, have accepted the invitation to participate in the upcoming 2025-26 season of the FIH Hockey Pro League. Pakistan were promoted through the FIH Hockey Nations Cup played in Malaysia earlier this year. Whilst New Zealand won that event against Pakistan in the final, Hockey New Zealand later indicated that the Black Sticks would not proceed with the invitation to join Pro League this time. Therefore, as stipulated in the regulations, FIH extended the invitation to the runners-up, namely Pakistan, who have confirmed their participation. FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “Great to see Pakistan back in elite competition – this is a truly impactful milestone for world hockey. Their return marks not only the comeback of a team with such a rich and storied history, but also an exciting boost to the visibility and reach of the FIH Hockey Pro League. I can already anticipate an enhanced visibility of the Pro League with Pakistan’s participation. Congratulations to the Pakistan men’s team for qualifying through the FIH Hockey Nations Cup and earning their place in the ‘League of the Best’ for the very first time. This achievement is a strong example of how creating more opportunities at every level of our sport fosters growth and provides a natural pathway to the very top.”Pakistan will join Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, India, Netherlands, and Spain in the upcoming men’s season of the FIH Hockey Pro League – the seventh edition of the competition. They will replace Ireland who were relegated at the end of the previous season, following their ninth place finish in the league. The FIH welcomes Pakistan to the ‘League of the Best’ and looks forward to their competitive presence enabling further historic matches and continuing the diversity of the League.
German men qualify for FIH Hockey World Cup 2026
Lausanne (Switzerland): At the ongoing EuroHockey Championships 2025, following their progression into the final of the competition, Germany have qualified for the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026!Germany will take on the Netherlands in the final, but as hosts of the event, Netherlands are already assured of a place at the upcoming World Cup, which leaves Germany to take the direct qualification spot available from Europe to the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026.Germany started off their EuroHockey campaign, at home in Mönchengladbach, with an absolute thriller against France in the Pool B. France held a two-goal lead going into the final ten minutes of the match but two goals from Justus Weigand and one from Gonzalo Peillat saw the hosts roar back and take all three points. A tight 1-1 draw against England followed, putting Germany firmly in command of Pool B. A final flourish in their last pool game against Poland, which they won 10-0, sent the Honamas into the semi-final as the table toppers, ahead of France who finished second in the pool.Germany were pitted against Spain in the second semi-final. Just over a month ago, Spain had pipped Germany to a World Cup qualification spot at the end of the FIH Hockey Pro League season by denying the Honamas victory in their final two matches of the season in Berlin. This time however Germany turned the tables on the Red Sticks. The Honamas were in the lead throughout the match, scoring two goals in the first quarter. Whilst they conceded a goal in the second one - putting the scoring at 2-1 at half-time - they added a third and a fourth one on the scoresheet in the last quarter, giving Spain no chance for a potential come-back.Commenting on Germany’s qualification for FIH’s flagship event, Justus Weigand said: “Obviously happy to qualify for the World Cup! After our FIH Hockey Pro League match against Spain we were a little bit disappointed. Tonight, in front of our home crowd, winning this match and qualifying for both the World Cup and the final of the EuroHockey Championship is a special feeling. Hopefully we can win the final against the Netherlands!”Germany become the sixth men’s team to qualify for the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026. Belgium and Netherlands, on account of being hosts of the event, gained direct qualification. Australia and Spain qualified through the previous two editions of the FIH Hockey Pro League. Argentina secured their qualification recently by winning the Pan American Cup. Continental championships in Asia, Africa and Oceania over the coming months will determine three more direct qualifiers for the event, with the remaining seven teams qualifying through the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in 2026.(SBR)
USA women secure FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 qualification
Sports Bulletin ReportMontevideo (Uruguay): At the ongoing Pan American Cup 2025, following their thrilling shootout win over Uruguay in the second semi-final, USA women have secured qualification to the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026.With Argentina winning the first semi-final against Chile, the final will be played between Argentina and USA. However, Argentina have already qualified for the upcoming World Cup through a second place finish behind already qualified Netherlands at the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024/25. So, USA, through their guaranteed top-2 finish at the Pan American Cup 2025, will take the direct qualification spot available to the Americas for the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026. USA, placed in Pool B made a perfect start to the tournament, defeating southern neighbours Mexico 10-0 in their opening encounter. This was followed by another impressive win in their toughest pool battle, as they beat Chile 5-2 to seal the top spot in the pool. Trinidad and Tobago’s late withdrawal from the competition meant USA, Chile and Mexico all received a 5-0 walkover against them in Pool B. With the top spot secured, USA were paired up against hosts Uruguay in the semi-final, who finished second in Pool A behind Argentina, with their six points coming from wins against Canada and Paraguay. As Argentina defeated Chile in the first semi-final, USA and Uruguay went into the second semi-final knowing a World Cup spot was at stake and the teams played with the edge befitting the large stakes. A cagey first half saw USA create plenty of penalty corner opportunities but Uruguay's defence held strong and the teams headed into half-time tied at 0-0. USA finally broke the deadlock with their first penalty corner of the second half with Ryleigh Heck putting them ahead. The goal spurred Uruguay on as they mounted waves of attack in search of an equaliser. Despite a missed penalty stroke opportunity in the final quarter, a late goal by Sol Amadeo brought Uruguay level and sent the match into a shootout. Both teams scored on their first two shoot-out attempts, but two stops by USA keeper Kelsey Bing on Uruguay’s next two attempts, along with USA attackers remaining perfect in all four of their attacking forays, gave USA the victory and punched their ticket to the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026.
Pakistan receives formal invitation to join FIH Hockey Pro League
Sports Bulletin ReportLausanne (Switzerland): After Hockey New Zealand notified the International Hockey Federation (FIH) of their decision not to participate in the next FIH Hockey Pro League Men’s season despite having won the FIH Hockey Nations Cup last month, FIH has, in accordance with the regulations, extended an invitation to the Nations Cup runners-up, namely Pakistan, to join the 2025-26 Pro League edition.The Pakistan Hockey Federation has been given a deadline of 12 August to inform FIH of their decision to accept or deny the invitation. The 2024-25 FIH Hockey Pro League crowned both Dutch teams, Women’s and Men’s, as champions. The upcoming season will be the seventh one of the “League of the Best”.
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