Latest news with #AsianHockeyFederation
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
India-Pakistan tensions threaten Asia Cup hockey tournament in Bihar
KUALA LUMPUR: Political tension between India and Pakistan has thrown the Asia Cup hockey tournament — set to start on Aug 29 in Bihar — into doubt. The burning question: will the tournament go ahead, or will it be postponed? The winners will earn a spot at the 2026 World Cup, to be hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium. As of now, the draw and fixtures remain unset, with world No 15 Pakistan yet to confirm their participation in the event hosted by India. Alongside world No 8 India and world No 12 Malaysia, the competition will also feature world No 13 and defending champions South Korea, Japan (No. 18), China (No. 22), Oman (No. 26) and Taiwan (No. 38). Timesport contacted the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) regarding the status of the tournament, but it declined to comment. Sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli said the Asia Cup is a major international hockey competition, and the draw and fixtures should have been finalised months ago. "By not doing the draw and fixtures, it is affecting the preparation of the other seven teams. It is also affecting their planning, strategy, and tactics, as the groupings are still unknown," he said. "The mindset of coaches, players, and officials is being impacted because no one knows whether the tournament is going ahead or being postponed. Pekan added it was "embarrassing" that the delay was due to Pakistan's decision to delay confirmation. "The AHF should have set a deadline for Pakistan to confirm, rather than giving them unlimited time," he said. "This is not a six-a-side tournament where you can make the draw at the last minute. It's a crucial event, with World Cup qualification at stake, and needs to be handled professionally. "AHF must be firm in its decisions. Otherwise, in future, other teams might do the same."
New Straits Times
24-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Clock ticking as Pakistan keep Asia Cup hockey waiting
KUALA LUMPUR: Pakistan are keeping everyone guessing over their participation in the Asia Cup hockey tournament in Rajgir, Bihar, India, from Aug 27 to Sept 7. Seven teams have already confirmed their spots in the tournament, with the champions earning a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium. However, the Pakistan government remains hesitant about sending their team to India due to ongoing political tensions between the two countries. Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) president Datuk Fumio Ogura, when contacted, said he is hopeful the situation will be resolved soon. "AHF will make an official announcement by the end of July or early next month," he said. "My strong wish is to see all eight teams compete in the Asia Cup, with the champions qualifying for next year's World Cup." Along with hosts India, the six other confirmed teams are defending champions South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, China, Oman and Taiwan. At the last edition in Jakarta in 2022, South Korea edged Malaysia 2-1 in the final, while India, fielding mostly juniors, pipped Japan 1-0 to finish third. Pakistan crushed Bangladesh 8-0 to claim fifth place, while Oman beat Indonesia 2-0 to take seventh.
Arab News
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Japan outclass Pakistan 3-0 to win Men's U18 Asia Cup 2025 title
ISLAMABAD: Japan defeated Pakistan 3-0 to win the Men's U18 Asia Cup 2025 final at the National Hockey Training Center in Dazhou, China on Sunday. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Despite both teams attacking each other, the opening quarter of the match ended without a goal. Japan's Yuma Fujiwara scored the first goal in the seventh minute of the second quarter. Fujiwara found the net once again in the third quarter, followed by Tatsuaki Yasui extending Japan's lead to 3-0 on a penalty corner in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. 'Japan are crowned champions after a commanding 3–0 victory over Pakistan in the final,' the Asian Hockey Federation commented on X. 'A flawless campaign, built on discipline, skill, and teamwork, earns Japan the top spot on the podium.' Pakistan had entered the final unbeaten, after defeating Malaysia 4-3 in the semifinals. Prior to that, the Pakistani side beat hosts China 2-1, Bangladesh 6-3, Sri Lanka 9-0 and Hong Kong 8-0.
Express Tribune
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
NZ outplay Pak to win Nations Cup
A view of the New Zealand versus Pakistan hockey final of the FIH Nations Cup in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. NZ proved much superior to Pak on the day, winning 6-2. PHOTO: AFP New Zealand emerged victorious in the final of the FIH Nations Cup by 6-2 on Saturday, defeating Pakistan to secure the coveted title and a place in the next season of the FIH Pro League. New Zealand made a spirited start to the summit clash as they found the back of the net twice but were disallowed on both occasions. They eventually struck their first goal in the sixth minute as Scott Coslett successfully converted the penalty corner. New Zealand doubled their lead in the last minute of the first quarter, courtesy of a precise field goal by Sam Hiha. They were even more ruthless in the subsequent quarter as they netted their third through Dylan Thomas within two minutes. Sean Findlay scored a sensational field goal in the next minute, putting New Zealand in complete control, while Scott Boyde made it 5-0 with just under four minutes to the halftime. Pakistan eventually scored their first goal in the fifth minute of the third quarter when Zikriya Hayat breached New Zealand's defence to smash the ball at the back of the net. The green shirts got five penalty corners in the penultimate quarter but failed to convert, meaning the scoreline remained intact at 5-1. The final quarter saw both teams going hard at each other and it appeared that the scoreline would remain intact but New Zealand were awarded a penalty corner, which Coslett converted comprehensively. Pakistan also scored in the next minute with Sufyan Khan converting a penalty corner but it was far from enough to pull Pakistan back as New Zealand registered a thumping 6-2 victory. The victory propelled New Zealand to the FIH Pro League. Pak hockey captain wants Asia Cup shifted from India Pakistan hockey captain Imad Shakeel Butt has raised serious concerns about the upcoming 2025 Men's Hockey Asia Cup, calling on the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) to shift the event away from India due to ongoing political tensions between the two countries. The tournament, scheduled to be held from August 27 to September 7, 2025, in Rajgir, Bihar, serves as a direct qualifier for the 2026 Hockey World Cup and, for Pakistan, it's a vital opportunity to secure a spot on global hockey's biggest stage. But the captain fears the political climate could affect fair participation. "The Asia Cup is crucial for us. Given the current political situation, we strongly believe the venue should be reconsidered to ensure fair participation and a neutral environment," said Imad Butt while addressing the media on Wednesday. His statement comes amid growing uncertainty over whether Pakistan will even be granted entry into India for the tournament. Reports, though not officially confirmed, have suggested that Indian authorities may delay or deny visas to the Pakistani team, citing security reasons. The 2025 Hockey Asia Cup is not the only sporting event expected to come under scrutiny due to Pakistan-India tensions. The 2025 Cricket Asia Cup is also under a cloud, while the Women's ODI World Cup is expected to carry high tensions as it is set to take place in India as well. Pakistan and India share an intense rivalry in hockey, but off-field politics have frequently cast a shadow on their matchups. With just a few months to go before the Asia Cup, questions remain about whether the tournament can go ahead smoothly if hosted in India — particularly if Pakistan's participation is in doubt. For now, all eyes are on the Asian Hockey Federation, as Pakistan awaits a decision that could impact their road to the 2026 World Cup.
News18
31-05-2025
- Sport
- News18
Pakistan Hockey Threatening To Relocate Upcoming Asia Cup If Visas Aren't Granted To Players
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced plans to request the relocation of the upcoming Asia Cup from India if visas for its national team are not guaranteed. The continental tournament is set to take place in India between late August and early September, with the winner securing a direct qualification spot for next year's World Cup in Europe. A PHF spokesperson stated that the federation would consider participating in the tournament only if the Asian Hockey Federation and local organizers provide written assurance of visa issuance. 'Despite the strained relations between both countries, if visas are guaranteed, we will approach our government for clearance to play in India," he said. 'Whatever directions are given by our government, we will follow them, but Pakistan's policy has always been to keep sports and politics separate." These comments come amidst heightened political tensions between the two nations, which nearly escalated into a full-scale conflict earlier this month. The PHF also expressed concerns regarding player security, emphasizing that it is the host nation's responsibility to ensure the safety of all participating teams.
