On January 1-2, 2026, Lahore (Pakistan) hosted the first international U17 field hockey tournament of the 2025-26 season. Teams from eight countries took part — including the national junior team of Kazakhstan, DKNews.kz reports.
And our players finished the tournament with medals. Kazakhstan’s juniors claimed third place and stepped onto the podium.
A true test of character
For the young athletes, this was more than just the start of the season. A tight match schedule, strong opponents and emotional endings became a real test of:
- endurance
- teamwork
- mental resilience
The Kazakh team handled the challenge confidently and showed consistent play.
When sport becomes diplomacy
The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Pakistan congratulated the team on its success and thanked the hosts for excellent organization and traditional hospitality.
Such tournaments are not only about competition. They also build dialogue, trust and cooperation between countries.
Why it matters
Bronze at an international U17 tournament is a strong signal:
- the level of youth training is rising
- field hockey is developing in Kazakhstan
- young players gain valuable international experience
And that means the national team has a future.
