 "Pakistan pulls out of Junior Hockey World Cup in India, demands neutral venue but FIH plans replacement team")
India-Pakistan’s sporting ties were dealt a new blow as the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has decided to pull out of the Junior Hockey World Cup to be held in India in November-December. Pakistan have also demanded a neutral venue, but the International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed on Friday (24 October) that a replacement team would be announced soon.
The Junior Hockey World Cup will be held from 28 November to 10 December in Chennai and Madurai.
“We can confirm that the Pakistan Hockey Federation has notified the International Hockey Federation (FIH) that its team initially qualified for the upcoming FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 won’t participate eventually,” FIH said in a statement released to PTI.
“The team replacing Pakistan for this event will be announced soon,” the statement added.
Pakistan were placed in Group B alongside India, Chile, and Switzerland and it remains to be seen which team replaces them.
This is the second event in India that Pakistan has pulled out from after the men’s Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, held from August 29 to September 7 this year. The sporting ties between India and Pakistan have deteriorated since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent Operation Sindoor.
The Indian government recently announced a new policy under which it will not engage in bilateral sporting contests with Pakistan but will continue to compete against them in multi-nation tournaments.
Hockey India caught off guard by Pakistan’s withdrawal
During the recent Asia Cup, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav had refused to shake hands with his Pakistan counterpart.
Hockey India, however, said it has no clue about Pakistan’s withdrawal.
“We have no information from FIH that Pakistan has withdrawn. I had a conversation with Pakistan Hockey Federation officials a month-and-a-half back, and they had confirmed their participation,” HI secretary general Bholanth Singh told PTI.
“What transpired after that, I have no knowledge. Our duty is to conduct the best tournament as hosts and hope India wins the title. It is now upto FIH to announce a replacement for Pakistan,” he said.
Pakistan demand neutral venue
PHF secretary general Rana Mujahid said that it had been decided in principle that the national junior team would not travel to India due to the existing tensions between the two countries, and it was conveyed to the FIH.
He added that PHF has asked for a neutral venue as well.
“We have, at the same time, urged the FIH to arrange for a neutral venue to allow us to participate and play our matches in the Junior World Cup as missing out on major events because they are being held in India is hurting our hockey and not helping in the development of our players,” the Olympian said in Lahore.
“We have told the FIH how do they expect us to go and play in India when their athletes are not even willing to shake hands in different sports, even at neutral venues. FIH says all the events were awarded to India well before the conflict so no one anticipated such a situation,” Rana added.
With agency inputs
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