LAHORE, Feb 20: A total of 650 players representing 35 districts will feature in the 6th Punjab U-17 Inter-district hockey championship to be started at the National Hockey Stadium from Friday.

Punjab sports minister, Moeen-ud-Din Riaz Qureshi told a press conference that all the teams would be divided into eight pools. The final will be played on March 4.

He pointed out that all districts had confirmed their participation.

He said in all 68 matches would be played, including 60 league, quarter-finals, semi-finals, a third position match and the final.

He claimed that this event had been providing 80 per cent talented boys to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), enabling it to make Pakistan junior team.

After the championship, he said a Punjab team would be selected to represent the province in the Inter-provincial championship to be held in Lahore in April.

He said all the arrangements had been made to provide accommodation to 650 players and officials.