Pakistan will participate in the Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2026 in China, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) said, in a move aimed at reviving women’s hockey in the country.

The PHF said it will hold a national training and selection camp in Islamabad from Aug. 18 as part of preparations for the continental tournament.

Players from the top four teams of the recently concluded National Girls Under-18/Under-21 Championship will be invited to the camp, while talented players from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir will also be considered through trials.

PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani said the selection process would be based on merit and transparency, with players assessed on their performances, technical ability, fitness, tactical understanding and discipline.

“Our players possess tremendous talent, passion and ability. We want to provide them with opportunities to compete internationally and become the stars of Pakistan hockey’s bright future,” Wani said.

The federation also plans to use the camp to develop a wider pool of young players who could form the basis of future national women’s teams.

The training programme will focus on fitness, modern coaching, tactical preparation, video analysis and international-standard preparations, the PHF said.

The move comes after the successful staging of the National Women’s Hockey Championship and junior-level competitions as the federation seeks to rebuild the women’s game.

“Our objective is not merely to participate in the event in China. We want to establish a sustainable system for girls’ hockey, from schools and grassroots programmes to the junior and senior levels,” Wani said.

The PHF said 706 schools have so far been registered under its grassroots initiative aimed at expanding girls’ hockey across the country.

The federation will work with provincial associations, coaches and other stakeholders to identify young talent and provide players with opportunities to compete at higher levels.

Pakistan will hope its participation in the Junior Asia Cup provides further momentum to efforts to rebuild the women’s game and develop a new generation of players.