Sufyan Khan
Sufyan Muhammad Khan (born 13 March 2004) is a Pakistani field hockey player who plays as a defender and is widely recognized as a drag-flick specialist. He was born in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where he began his early training under former Pakistan hockey player Ihsanullah. To further polish his skills, he later moved to the Dar Hockey Academy in Lahore. Sufyan started his professional career with Pakistan Navy, representing the team from 2022 to 2023, before joining Mari Petroleum in 2023. At the junior level, he represented Pakistan’s Under-21 team in major international tournaments, including the 2023 Sultan of Johor Cup, the 2023 Junior Hockey World Cup, and the 2023 Junior Asia Cup. He made his senior international debut in 2022 at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, where Pakistan finished third. Since then, he has established himself as one of the team’s key penalty corner specialists. In the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy, he scored 5 goals, while in the 2023 Asian Games, he added 3 goals. He also scored during the 2024 FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers, although Pakistan did not qualify for the Olympics. In the 2024 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, he delivered an outstanding performance by scoring his first international hat-trick against Malaysia, leading Pakistan to a thrilling 5–4 victory. He also scored against South Korea in a 4–0 win. Despite strong performances, Pakistan finished as runners-up after losing the final to Japan. In the 2024 Nations Cup, he scored against Malaysia in a 4–4 draw, though Pakistan was eliminated in the semi-finals by New Zealand. He continued his impressive form in the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy, scoring 6 goals and helping Pakistan secure the bronze medal. In recognition of his exceptional performances, Sufyan Muhammad Khan was awarded the FIH Rising Star of the Year (Men) in 2024.
FIH Rising Star of the Year (Men) 2024