MUSCAT: Pakistan’s Sufyan Khan was named the FIH Rising Star of the Year during the Hockey Stars Awards ceremony held by hockey’s world governing body in Muscat on Saturday.

The Bannu-born Sufyan, a defender and penalty corner specialist who made his debut in 2022, was the lone Pakistan player among 30 nominees across six categories for both men and women.

Indian captain and drag-flick specialist Harmanpreet Singh was named the men’s Player of the Year while his former team-mate P.R. Sreejesh, who announced his retirement after the Paris Olympics, was named the Goalkeeper of the Year.

Meanwhile, incumbent president Tayyab Ikram was re-elected for another term at the helm of the FIH at the 49th FIH Statutory Congress.

He was the lone candidate in the fray after completion of the scrutiny and approval of nominations.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2024