LAHORE: Pakistani defender and drag flicker Sufyan Khan continues to shine on the international stage, adding yet another honor to his burgeoning career.
Just weeks after being awarded the FIH Rising Star of the Year in Muscat, Oman, Sufyan has emerged as the top scorer at the Junior Asia Cup 2024 to be held in Muscat. The talented defender, who served as the vice-captain of the Pakistan Junior Hockey team, showed off his prowess with an impressive tally of 12 goals, including 10 penalty corners and two penalty strokes.
His outstanding performances included two hat-tricks scored against Malaysia and Bangladesh and the Player of the Match award in Pakistan’s opening match against China. In the final, Pakistan faced arch rival India but lost 3-5. However, Sufyan stood out by converting both the penalty corners that Pakistan managed to get. In contrast, India capitalized on three of their six penalty corners to ensure victory. Observers believe that with more penalty corners, Pakistan may have swung the game in their favour, underlining Sufyan’s pivotal role in the team’s campaign.
The Bannu-born star, a product of Lahore’s renowned Dar Hockey Academy, exemplifies the academy’s legacy of nurturing top talent. He is among the five players in the current junior squad who have graduated from this premier hockey nursery, a testament to the institution’s contribution to Pakistani hockey.
Despite Pakistan finishing as runners-up, Sufyan Khan’s achievements have brought pride to the nation and cemented his reputation as a future star of world hockey. As he continues to develop, fans and experts alike expect even greater achievements from this budding talent.