Three talented Senior pupils have achieved outstanding success in hockey, earning places in the prestigious Timperley Talent Academy as part of the England Hockey Pathway.
Aaliyah Hammad (Year 10), Charlie Okell (Year 9), and Anvi Lalwani (Year 10, Goalkeeper), who are all part of the school’s King’s Elite Athlete Programme (KEAP), have been selected to train every two weeks with top-level coaches, aiming for a spot in the Talent Academy Festival at Nottingham Hockey Centre next July. This national event will see regional teams compete against the best young players from across the country. Ahead of the festival, the trio will take part in seeding matches against other North West Talent Academies.
The athletes’ selection reflects the dedication and hard work they have shown in school and club training, as well as their commitment to the sport.
Adding to Anvi Lalwani’s success, she has also been chosen for Hockey Mentors, a programme designed to help players reach their full potential through elite fixtures, training camps, and a supportive performance environment. Later this month, Anvi will travel to Holland for an U16 indoor tournament, followed by Barcelona in the new year for an U18 outdoor competition against top European opposition. She has also been selected for the Junior International Programme, which includes high-level coaching at Lee Valley and opportunities to play in Ulster and attend training camps at Loughborough University.
Sarah Hopkin, King’s School Hockey Coach, has enjoyed her own successful Hockey career playing for England Juniors, as well as Premier League club level and winning Gold at the O35 England Masters 4 Nations and World Cup tournaments in 2022. She congratulated the trio: “We are incredibly proud of Aaliyah, Charlie, and Anvi. Their commitment to training and their determination to improve have been outstanding. These opportunities are well deserved, and we can’t wait to see what they achieve next.”
