Sports Bulletin

Islamabad (Sports Desk): Day two of the FIH Hockey World Cup delivered plenty more action on Sunday, with significant wins, brave draws and spirited comeback efforts across the two venues in Belgium and the Netherlands.Former champions Australia enjoyed a solid start to their World Cup campaign, beating Ireland’s men 3-1 in their tournament opener. Joel Rintala opened the scoring in the seventh minute when his penalty-corner strike hit the post before rebounding off the goalkeeper and into the net, and he doubled the lead with another PC in the second quarter. Blake Govers then made it 3-0 from yet another penalty corner, scoring the 167th international goal of his career. The three-time world champions’ intensity dropped off in the second half, and Alistair Empey managed to pull one back for the Irish, popping it in after a penalty corner save rebounded off goalkeeper Ash Thomas’ helmet. Ireland then applied plenty of late pressure with Thomas being repeatedly put to the test, but the Kookaburras held firm to secure the victory.Australia’s Liam Henderson was named as Player of the Match and said afterwards: “It was good fun, good to get a first hit out, good win…”Later in the day, the Dutch men survived an early scare to beat New Zealand 5-1. The Black Sticks stunned the Amsterdam crowd when James Hickson put them ahead in the 23rd minute, but the second half belonged to the Netherlands. Tjep Hoedemakers levelled with some one-touch magic in the 35th minute, before Duco Telgenkamp fired home a rebound after a penalty-corner save to put the hosts ahead in the 41st. Thierry Brinkman then tapped in the third eight minutes later, Hoedemakers grabbed his second just a minute after that, and Koen Bijen completed the rout from a penalty corner in the 52nd minute, sending a relieved Dutch crowd home happy.New Zealand’s women stunned Belgium in a similar manner in their encounter in Wavre before the hosts rallied for a 5-2 win. The Kiwis took an early lead through a penalty-corner rebound in the fourth minute, but Stephanie Vanden Borre levelled five minutes later before Emma Puvrez put Belgium ahead in the 12th. Charlotte Englebert capitalised on a defensive error to make it 3-1 10 minutes later, before Hannah Cotter pulled one back for New Zealand with a reverse-stick strike on the counter in the 33rd minute. Justine Rasir then restored Belgium’s two-goal cushion from a messy penalty-corner rebound in the 41st, before adding her second six minutes later to seal the 5-2 win.Puvrez was named Player of the Match and said: “It was wonderful. Already in the first seconds, the public was awesome. The people were great and we felt the support until the end… and I’m very happy we could take a win home with the team.”England’s women recorded their first win in a World Cup opener since 2010 with a convincing 4-0 victory over South Africa. Despite a strong start from the African champions, England took control early, with goals from Darcy Bourne and Tessa Howard. Elizabeth Neal added a third from another penalty corner just 24 seconds before half-time, before Sophie Hamilton completed the scoring in the third quarter with a powerful reverse-stick finish from a lovely team build-up.Meanwhile, India and China’s women played out another World Cup thriller as the sides shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw. Navneet Kaur gave India the lead in the eighth minute, but Zhang Ying levelled from a penalty stroke just eight seconds before the first break. Deepika restored India’s advantage in the 25th minute with a penalty corner that took a vicious deflection off a Chinese defender, but Ma Ning’s expertly executed penalty corner in the 39th minute earned China a draw and a share of the points – the same result as the World Cup pool encounter between the same sides four years ago.Spain’s men made a fast start and held off a spirited South African comeback to claim a 3-1 win. Two first-quarter goals less than a minute apart, from Marc Reyne and José Basterra, put South Africa on the back foot early. Basterra added his second shortly before half-time to put Spain firmly in control. The South Africans responded with a stronger third quarter, finally breaking through when Mustapha Cassiem rocketed a penalty corner into the top-left corner. Despite sustained pressure, the Red Sticks' defence held on to secure the victory.In other action, the keepers at both ends were called upon in the opening quarter of the clash between Argentina and Japan’s men. The Argentinians broke the deadlock in the second quarter with Nicolas Keenan setting up Joaquin Toscani to provide the finish from close-range to take his team 1-0 up in the 22nd minute. That lead was doubled by Lucio Mendez after some scrappy play in the 54th minute. Maico Casella then helped Martin Ferreiro’s mis-hit shot over the line for their third goal four minutes later to wrap up a somewhat flattering 3-0 win after a brave effort from Japan that was just lacking the finishing touch.In the final match of the day, Spain’s women had two first-half goals disallowed against Ireland but still managed to take a 1-0 lead into the break, thanks to some excellent skill from Laia Vidosa to score in the 23rd minute. Hannah McLoughlin then provided the equaliser for Ireland off a penalty corner deflection in the 36th. Both teams scored from penalty corners in the third quarter, keeping matters level heading into the final period. But Spain’s captain Xantal Gine stepped up with five minutes to go, firing in the winner for her side off another penalty corner.

Islamabad (Sports Desk): Germany’s men and the Netherlands’ women got their FIH Hockey World Cup title defence off to the perfect start with opening day victories as the tournament kicked off across two host venues – in Belgium and the Netherlands.The German men raced into a three-goal lead in the opening eight minutes of their match against Malaysia after Jakob Brilla scored from a penalty corner in the fourth minute, Christopher Ruhr added a field goal in the fifth, and Justus Weigand finished off a great team effort in the eighth.The Malaysians did well to contain the Germans in the second quarter, which remained goalless. They then pulled one back through Abu Kamal Azrai in the 40th minute. But Germany regained their three-goal lead just before the final break thanks to a well-timed deflection from Justus Warweg and Paul-Philipp Kaufmann tapped in a fifth in the final quarter to wrap up the 5-1 win.Meanwhile, the Dutch women were given a stern test by Chile in their opening match but ultimately prevailed 2-0.It took the hosts until the 21st minute to break the deadlock, with Marijn Veen getting the perfect deflection on a Yibbi Jansen pass to put the Netherlands ahead. Jansen doubled their lead from a penalty corner in the 35th minute, but the Dutch attack was made to work for every opportunity as Chile, led by a superb performance from goalkeeper Natalia Salvador, put up a resolute defensive display.Marijn Veen was named Player of the Match and said afterwards: “It’s so amazing to play a World Cup in your own home city and in your own country. We are very grateful and proud and love all the orange people.”It was another massive defensive effort that saw the United States women pull off a brave draw against 2022 FIH Hockey World Cup silver medallists Argentina. Brisa Bruggesser put Las Leonas in front in the 11th minute before Emma DeBerdine found the equaliser just before the half-time break. The Americans then produced an impressive defensive display to hold on for the 1-1 draw and the all-important point.Earlier, in the first match of the tournament, Japan’s women did well to keep the Australians out for much of the first half of their encounter in Amsterdam. But the first goal of the FIH Hockey World Cup eventually came courtesy of an Australian penalty corner, with Claire Colwill dragging in the opener in the 27th minute. Colwill plugged in a second from Australia’s fifth penalty corner of the match in the 51st minute – again dragging the ball into the bottom right corner to seal a 2-0 victory.Colwill was named Player of the Match and said afterwards: “It’s a great start and I think to be the first game of the whole tournament is really exciting too, so hopefully the crowd liked it and got around us.”The first men’s match of the tournament saw India celebrating their Independence Day with a 3-1 win against Wales in Jacob Draper’s 100th match for the Welsh. India’s first goal came from a penalty corner with Sanjay’s flick squeezing through the keeper’s legs in the eighth minute.Harmanpreet Singh added his name to the scoresheet three minutes later from a perfectly executed penalty corner. And the prolific veteran completed his brace with another excellently taken penalty corner in the third quarter. Sam Welsh pulled one back for Wales in the 56th minute, but it was not enough to deny the Indians a confident 3-1 win.Harmanpreet was named Player of the Match and said: “I think we started very well and I’m very happy with one of our youngsters scoring a goal with a drag flick and as a team we managed the ball very well.”

Rawalpindi (PR): Butt Hockey Academy Rawalpindi organized two thrilling hockey matches at Shehnaz Sheikh Hockey Stadium, Rawalpindi, as part of the Independence Day celebrations in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.The first match was played between Women XI Rawalpindi and Butt Women Hockey Academy, with Women XI Rawalpindi securing a narrow 1-0 victory.In the second encounter, Rawalpindi Hockey Club faced Butt Hockey Club, where Butt Hockey Academy produced an impressive performance to register a convincing 3-0 win.The Principal of Askaria College graced the occasion as the chief guest. The celebrations also included an Independence Day cake-cutting ceremony organized by Butt Hockey Academy, followed by the distribution of prizes among the players.In a special tribute to his services to hockey, Jameel Butt, International Coach and Referee, was honored during the ceremony. As a gesture of appreciation, Askaria College presented him with a brand-new Honda motorcycle for his outstanding services and contribution to the promotion of hockey.A large number of spectators turned up at the stadium and enthusiastically witnessed both matches, adding to the festive atmosphere.The event reflected the spirit of Independence Day while promoting hockey and encouraging young players in the Rawalpindi-Islamabad region.

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) ha invited 33 players for training camp in Islamabad aiming to the preparations of the "Four-Nation Invitational Hockey Tournament" to be held in Kazan, Russia.The training camp will be established at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad, starting on August 15. The Four-Nation Tournament will be played from August 27 to September 1, 2026, in Kazan, Russia.According to the notification issued on the recommendations of the Professional Development Committee and the National Selection Committee of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, all selected players have been directed to report by 5:00 PM on August 15.PHF sent a letter to all relevant Provincial Associations, Sports Departments, and Service Organizations directing the players to bring a No Objection Certificate (NOC), a passport valid for at least 6 months, 8 passport-sized photographs, and their playing kits.Names of Players:Goalkeepers (4): Faizan Janjua, Mohammad Awais, Muneeb-ur-Rehman, Awais Rasheed.Defenders (6): Yasir Islam, Ehsan Khan, Usman Khan, Mohammad Zain, Asad Aziz, Bilal Aslam.Half-Backs (8): Abdul Hamid, Ahsan Nadeem, Samiullah, Aqeel Ahmed, Irfan Shah, Mohammad Atif, Abdul Wahab, Rehan Ali.Forwards (15): Mohammad Arsalan, Taha Sherwani, Sarfraz Zaheer, Awais Arshad, Shareef Khan, Mohammad Faizan, Ali Murtaza, Mohammad Bilal, Taimoor Javed, Mohammad Ahmed, Danish Tariq, Ramzan Sargana, Abu Bakar/Abuzar, Abdul Yousuf, Waseem Akram, Usman Ashraf.

Shahnaz ShaikhWith the Hockey World Cup 2026 set to begin on August 15 in Belgium and the Netherlands, Pakistan's campaign will hinge on a familiar equation: five points from the pool stage should be enough to send the four-time champions into the quarter-finals.The 16-team event has been divided into four pools, with Pakistan drawn in Pool D alongside England, India and Wales. The top two sides from each pool advance to the knockout stage, and Pakistan's opener against England on the tournament's opening days is expected to set the tone for the campaign. Five days later, on August 19, comes the fixture that will dominate headlines back home: Pakistan versus India.Putting the Pro League behind themPakistan's recent form in the FIH Pro League has been underwhelming, but there is a case to be made that those results should not weigh on the squad heading into Belgium and the Netherlands. The bigger issue, in this observer's view, has been a shortage of big-match temperament — a consequence of Pakistan's limited exposure to top-ranked opposition in major tournaments over recent years.That shortage will be tested immediately against India. Pakistan cannot afford to go into that match with anything less than full conviction. The days of grass-roots, 1970s-style hockey are long gone; what is required now is the structured, four-quarter game plan of the modern era — built on Pakistan's traditional zonal approach, a “one-plus-one” and trio attacking shape, and German-influenced defensive pressing.A strong showing at this World Cup would carry weight well beyond the scoreline — it would give real momentum to the Pakistan Hockey Federation's ongoing efforts to revive the sport domestically. Pakistan remains the only nation to have lifted the World Cup four times, a record that still sets it apart in the sport's history.Three departments, one teamVictory, if it comes, will depend on all three departments of the side functioning as a single unit.The forward line carries the responsibility of stretching opposition defences and creating chances, while staying disciplined enough not to leave the team exposed to counter-attacks. The midfield must build a solid defensive screen, breaking up opposition moves before they reach the circle. Deep defence needs to function as the team's last line of caution, while — as in all modern hockey — the goalkeeper's form could ultimately prove decisive.A settled group, despite the turnover at the topThe current squad has largely trained and competed together for close to two years, even as the team has gone through three different management set-ups in the space of six months. The inclusion of the Sufiyan-Hassan pairing in attack is expected to add further firepower up front.Players will need to manage the tempo of a fast, modern game: staying composed when ahead, and avoiding panic when behind.The numbers that need to changeStatistics from Pakistan's recent Pro League matches point to a clear problem — possession and ball retention were markedly lower than their opponents', forcing the side to spend an estimated 60 percent of its energy on defensive duties rather than building attacks. It is a weakness this correspondent has flagged before: physical conditioning, inconsistency, and a tendency to fade in the closing stages of matches. A return to the four-quarter game management associated with the Olympian Shahnaz Shaikh method could help address exactly that endurance problem.One thing the team management would do well to avoid, going into the tournament, is any suggestion — public or private — that this World Cup “is not a target.” That framing has no place for a team carrying four World Cup titles into a tournament of this stature.Pakistan have four stars on their jersey. The chase for a fifth begins in Holland and Belgium.

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The South Korean hockey team beat Pakistan 6-2 in the final fixture of a 4-match series here at the Nasser Bunda Hockey Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex on Friday. Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) created an opportunity for the Under-21 side to gain valuable international exposure against the experienced Korean lads.South Korea made a flying start, scoring twice in the opening quarter through Rim Jinkang in the third minute and Kim Hyeonhong in the fifth minute, both from penalty corners, to take a 2-0 lead. Pakistan reduced the deficit in the second quarter when Mohammad Ahmed scored a field goal in the 19th minute, leaving Korea ahead 2-1 at half-time.The visitors dominated the third quarter, converting three penalty corners. Lim Dohyun struck in the 37th and 40th minutes, while Kim Hyeonhong added his second goal of the match in the 42nd minute to extend Korea’s lead to 5-1.Pakistan responded immediately in the fourth quarter as Ghulam Mustafa scored a field goal in the 43rd minute. However, Kim Yong Bok sealed Korea’s 6-2 victory with another field goal in the 54th minute.Although the Under-21 side lost the final fixture, Pakistan’s senior team had already wrapped up the series with three consecutive victories. The national team’s overall performance throughout the series drew widespread appreciation from hockey fans, reflecting encouraging progress ahead of upcoming international competitions. 

Islamabad (faisal: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has officially announced the 20-member national squad and team management for the FIH Hockey Men's World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held from 15 to 30 August 2026 in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, and Belgium.Pakistan SquadWaqar Ahmed, Mohammad Abdullah, Mohammad Sufyan Khan, Moin Shakeel, Abdul Waheed Ashraf Rana, Abdul Hannan Shahid, Zikriya Hayat, Arshad Liaqat, Adeel Latif, Ahmad Nadeem, Ghazanfar Ali, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Mohammad Hammaduddin Anjum, Rehman Abdul,Mohammad Afraz, Umar Mustafa, Abu Bakar Mahmood, Ali Raza, Abdul Manan, Mohammad Ammad, Waqar and Ali Raza.Team ManagementHead Coach: Bob Johan Veldhof (Netherlands), Assistant Coach: Christopher John Bowen (Great Britain), Assistant Coach: Adnan ZakirTeam Manager: Mohammad Awais QarniVideo Technician: Ashraf Sultan.

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: The penultimate fixture of the 4-Test match Series between hosts Pakistan and South Korea will be played on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) at Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad. It is pertinent to mention that the Green Shirts are ahead 2-0, an unassailable lead in the tie.According to an official of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), the match will kick off at 5:15 pm, and the stage is ready for an international hockey competition, as hockey lovers are keen to enjoy good hockey between the two best nations of Asia.Pakistan defeated South Korea in the first Test 3-1, while the second Test match finished in similar style 3-0 at the same venue on July 30 and August 1, respectively. Abu Bakar Mehmood will lead the Pakistan team while Jihun Yang will lead the visiting team in a do-or-die match. South Korea are 2-0 in the series and they will have to win the match to keep the hopes alive to square the vital hockey series before the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, which will be played in Belgium and Holland this month.     Pakistan Squad: Mohammad Waqar (Goalkeeper), Mohammad Abdullah, Umer Mustafa, Sufyan Khan, Moin Shakeel, Rana Waheed Ashraf, Zikriya Hayat, Arashad Laiquat, Adeel Latif, Ahmed Nadeem, Ghazanfar Ali, Ahmed Butt, Mohammad Hammadudin, Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Afraz, Abu Bakar Mehmood (Captain), Ali Raza (Goalkeeper), Mohammad AmmadSouth Korea Squad: Jaaehyeeon Kim (Goalkeepeer), Kyubeom Kim, Jihun Yang (Captain), Jaewon Sim, Jinkang Rim, Jaeho Kim, Young Bok Kim, Gangskin Lee, Dohyun Lim, Seyong Oh, Bain Son, Hyeongjin Kim, Soung Min Bae, Hyeonhong Kim, Seungwoo Lee, Jaehan Kim(Goalkeeper), Hyeseung Lee, Cheoleon Park.

Islamabad (Sports News): The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), with the support of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), has launched the National Hockey Portal, a nationwide digital platform to identify, register, and nurture young hockey talent from schools across Pakistan.All public and private schools are encouraged to register on the National Hockey Portal at nationalhockeyportal.com and become part of this landmark initiative aimed at reviving Pakistan's national game through a structured grassroots development programme.As part of this national campaign, the Pakistan Hockey Federation will provide hockey equipment to 1,000 schools across Pakistan in phases. Registered schools will also receive technical guidance, coaching support, and opportunities to participate in talent identification and player development programmes.The initiative seeks to create a sustainable pipeline of young players by promoting hockey at the school level and ensuring that talented boys and girls from every province, region, and district are given the opportunity to develop their skills and represent Pakistan in the future.The Pakistan Hockey Federation has called upon all provincial governments, education departments, school administrations, and private educational institutions to actively support the initiative by ensuring the timely registration of schools on the National Hockey Portal. Their cooperation will be instrumental in expanding hockey participation, strengthening grassroots sports, and identifying the next generation of national hockey stars.The Pakistan Hockey Federation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination and the Pakistan Sports Board, remains committed to restoring Pakistan's glorious hockey legacy through modern, technology-driven talent identification and comprehensive grassroots development across the country.

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Pakistan men’s hockey team overpowered South Korea 3-1 in the first match of the 4-Test match tie here at Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex, on Thursday. Mohammad Sufyan scored two goals while skipper Mohammad Abubakar scored one for Pakistan. Jang Ji-Hun scored the solitary goal for South Korea.Both teams started the game at a slow, cautious pace. They tried their best to keep the ball in control, as the first quarter ended goalless. Pakistan made a couple of attempts but could not move the scoreboard. Meanwhile, in the second quarter, the hosts earned the lead when Sufyan penalty corner push went into the goalpost. Jang Ji leveled the match 1-1 after scoring a goal on short-corner.