Last week we brought you the exciting breaking news that Sports Scholar Sofia M (Year 12) had been selected for the GB squad at the Junior Hockey World Cup next month.

As she prepares to fly out to South Africa in time for the first match on 1 April, we are thrilled to announce that she has received two more tremendous accolades.

The Hockey Writers’ Club have selected Sofia as the winner of their Youth/Junior Award for 2021. She beat off competition from a strong field, and has been invited to a special Presentation Day Lunch at the prestigious Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge on 25 March.

She is also the recipient of a Royal Bank of Canada SportsAid Award of £1,000, ‘to help support [her] with the cost of competing, training and participating in [her] sport’. Previous recipients have included Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Mo Harah, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Ellie Simmonds OBE and Dina-Asha Smith.

We will be avidly following Sofia’s progress at the World Cup at watch.hockey.

Pool fixtures

• 1 April England v South Africa 11am local time
• 2 April England v Ireland 7pm local time
• 4 April England v Ukraine 9am local time

If finishing first or second in pool

• 8 April Quarter Finals
• 10 April Semi Finals
• 12 April Final / 3rd-4th play-off