KARACHI: Open trials to select two Sindh teams for the upcoming 28th National Women’s Hockey Championship commenced at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium on Wednesday.

As many as 73 girls reported for trials which started some 45-minutes behind schedule and continued for an hour-and-a-quarter. According to break-up, 41 girls turned up from the city, 15 from Hyderabad, 13 from Sukkur and four from Larkana. No girl from Mirpurkhas appeared in the trials.

The trials were watched by three selectors and an ex-office member of the selection committee which includes Abuzar, Arif Mehmood (Sukkur), Ms Misbah Mehmood (Hyderabad), and Syeda Erum Bokhari (ex- officio member). Three other selectors Mrs. Shaista Javed (Karachi), Anwar Ahmed (Mirpurkhas) and Ramzan Jamali (Larkana) were conspicuous by their absence.

Of the 41 Karachi players, Ms Sanober Kazmi, Karachi Division Women’s Hockey Association (KDWHA) secretary, had recommended the names of eight who were registered with their body while rest of the girls were permitted by the selectors.

Meanwhile, due to enormous response, the Sindh Women’s Hockey Association (SWHA) has extended the trials by a day. The players have been asked to report again at HCP Stadium on Thursday at 3.30pm.