Pakistan, April 14 -- Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has barred nine players from participating in the National Under-18 Youth Hockey Games after they were found overage during a stringent scrutiny process.

According to a PHF press release issued here on Monday, the federation's scrutiny committee disqualified the players on grounds of age misrepresentation and exceeding the prescribed age limit for the tournament.

The verification process, carried out with the assistance of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), involved careful examination of Family Registration Certificates (FRCs), which confirmed that the players were not eligible to compete in the U-18 category. The PHF reiterated its commitment to uphold trans...