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NDTV
20-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Hockey India To Follow Guidelines: Official On Pakistan's Asia Cup Participation
A top official of Indian hockey federation on Tuesday made it clear that it will follow government guidelines on Pakistan's participation in Asia Cup, which the country is hosting later this year, in the wake of the recent military conflict between the two nations. A ceasefire was agreed upon between the two countries after days of intense cross-border hostilities in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 people, following which the IPL too remained suspended for a brief period. When asked about Pakistan's participation in the upcoming tournament, Hockey India's (HI) secretary general Bholanath Singh said, "Whatever the government decides we will abide by it. Till now we didn't have talks with the government on this. "The country comes first for us. Asia Cup is happening in India, and whatever the government advises us, we will abide by that." The Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in Rajgir, Bihar from August 27 till September 7. Two days ago, a senior official in the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) said it has asked the sport's continental body to guarantee visas for its contingent to participate in the Asia Cup, which is a qualifying tournament for next year's men's FIH World Cup to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium. Bholanath added, "I am AHF (Asian Hockey Federation) vice-president, I am secretary general of Hockey India, but first I am a citizen of India. Whatever the country and the government decides, Hockey India will follow that. Posts are different, but country's honour comes first." Serious doubts though remain over Pakistan's participation in the Asia Cup because of the tensions between the two countries.
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First Post
19-05-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Pakistan Hockey Federation wants visa guarantee for upcoming Men's Asia Cup in India
Pakistan's participation in the Men's Asia Cup, that will be held in Rajgir, Bihar from 27 August to 7 September this year, appears doubtful following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and the subsequent military conflict between New Delhi and Islamabad. read more The Pakistan men's hockey team has not played on Indian soil since the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy. PTI Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) wants the continental body to guarantee visas for its contingent to participate in the Asia Cup to be held in India from August 27 to September 7, according to an official in Karachi. Pakistan's participation in the tournament, to be held in Rajgir (Bihar), is in serious doubt because of the tensions between the two countries after the Pahalgam terror attack, and Hockey India (HI) has said it is awaiting a government advisory on the matter. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'It is too early to say anything but we will follow the government's directive on this issue, which has been the case in the past. We can't predict anything right now especially after the recent barbaric Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor that India conducted following that,' HI secretary general Bholanath Singh had told PTI. Also Read | India cannot play in Asia Cup organised by Pakistani-led ACC, says BCCI: Report A senior PHF official said that the Asia Cup was vital for Pakistan as it is a qualifying tournament for next year's men's World Cup to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium. 'We don't want to lose the opportunity of going to the World Cup via the Asia Cup,' the official said. 'So we believe, one solution could be moving the event from India or Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) guaranteeing visas for our team,' he added. The PHF official said there would also be the World Cup qualifying events in early 2026 but the Asia Cup represented a good chance to qualify. Pakistan didn't qualify for the last World Cup held in 2023 in India. Hosts India, Pakistan, Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, Oman and Chinese Taipei are scheduled to participate in the 12th edition of the continental showpiece. Also Read | Why Pakistan isn't invited for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup despite finishing runners-up last year STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In case Pakistan doesn't get the nod to travel to India, the decision to make the tournament a seven-team affair or bring in a new team to fill the vacant slot, will be entirely in the hands of the Asian Hockey Federation. 'If the government advisory does not give an all clear, then Pakistan won't travel to India. It all depends on the government position at that time,' a HI source had said. 'It's very hard to predict right now whether a new team will be added in such a scenario or it will be a seven-team tournament. The Asian Hockey Federation will take a call on this,' the official said on condition of anonymity. The last time a Pakistan hockey team did not compete in a multi-nation event in India was the 2016 Junior World Cup, which took place a few months after a terror attack at the Pathankot air base. Malaysia had replaced the Pakistani team in that event. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Hindustan Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
PHF wants Asian body to guarantee visa for its team to participate in Asia Cup in India: official
Karachi, Pakistan Hockey Federation wants the continental body to guarantee visas for its contingent to participate in the Asia Cup to be held in India from August 27 to September 7, according to an official here. Pakistan's participation in the tournament, to be held in Rajgir , is in serious doubt because of the tensions between the two countries after the Pahalgam terror attack, and Hockey India has said it is awaiting a government advisory on the matter. "It is too early to say anything but we will follow the government's directive on this issue, which has been the case in the past. We can't predict anything right now especially after the recent barbaric Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor that India conducted following that," HI secretary general Bholanath Singh had told PTI. A senior PHF official said that the Asia Cup was vital for Pakistan as it is a qualifying tournament for next year's men's World Cup to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium. "We don't want to lose the opportunity of going to the World Cup via the Asia Cup,' the official said. 'So we believe, one solution could be moving the event from India or Asian Hockey Federation guaranteeing visas for our team,' he added. The PHF official said there would also be the World Cup qualifying events in early 2026 but the Asia Cup represented a good chance to qualify. Pakistan didn't qualify for the last World Cup held in 2023 in India. Hosts India, Pakistan, Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, Oman and Chinese Taipei are scheduled to participate in the 12th edition of the continental showpiece. In case Pakistan doesn't get the nod to travel to India, the decision to make the tournament a seven-team affair or bring in a new team to fill the vacant slot, will be entirely in the hands of the Asian Hockey Federation. "If the government advisory does not give an all clear, then Pakistan won't travel to India. It all depends on the government position at that time," a HI source had said. "It's very hard to predict right now whether a new team will be added in such a scenario or it will be a seven team tournament. The Asian Hockey Federation will take a call on this," the official said on condition of anonymity. The last time a Pakistan hockey team did not compete in a multi-nation event in India was the 2016 Junior World Cup, which took place a few months after a terror attack at the Pathankot air base. Malaysia had replaced the Pakistani team in that event.
India Today
14-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Pahalgam fallout: Pakistan doubtful for Asia Cup 2025 hockey in Bihar
The national federation is awaiting a government advisory but Pakistan's participation in this year's Asia Cup hockey tournament in India is in serious doubt because of the prevalent tension between the two countries after the Pahalgam terror Asia Cup will be staged in Rajgir, Bihar from August 27 to September 7. Hosts India, Pakistan, Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, Oman and Chinese Taipei are scheduled to participate in the 12th edition of the continental showpiece, a qualifying tournament for next year's World Cup to be held in Netherlands and is too early to say anything but we will follow the government's directive on this issue, which has been the case in the past," HI secretary general Bholanath Singh told PTI. "We can't predict anything right now especially after the recent barbaric Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor that India conducted following that."There is still close to three months for the tournament but we will abide by what our government suggests us. There are no two ways about it."In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives and injured many, the government ordered all Pakistani nationals to leave the country and revoked their visas.A fortnight after the gruesome incident, India responded launched 'Operation Sindoor' and carried out missile strikes on terrorist hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and led to further escalation as Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks, which were neutralised by India's robust air defence system. India responded by hitting military installations and air defence systems located in prominent Pakistani cities like Lahore and Rawalpindi among two countries agreed to a ceasefire on May 10 after Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations reached out to his Indian Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation, made it clear that any engagement with Pakistan will hinge on clear evidence of action against terrorism by that country.'HARD TO PREDICT RIGHT NOW' "If the government advisory does not give an all clear than Pakistan won't travel to India. It all depends on the government position at that time," a federation source told case Pakistan doesn't get the nod to travel to India, the decision to make the tournament a seven-team affair or bring in a new team to fill the vacant slot, will be entirely in the hands of the Asian Hockey Federation."It's very hard to predict right now whether a new team will be added in such a scenario or it will be a seven team tournament. The Asian Hockey Federation will take a call on this," the official said on condition of last time a Pakistan hockey team did not compete in a multi-nation event in India was the 2016 Junior World Cup, which took place a few months after a terror attack at the Pathankot air had replaced the Pakistani team in that current scenario has also put a question mark on Pakistan's participation in the upcoming Junior World Cup to be held in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December Asia Cup assumes high significance as it is a World Cup qualifier, with the winner earning a direct spot for next year's mega-event that will be held in the Belgian city of Wavre and Netherland's Amstelveen from August 14 to winners South Korea are the defending champions with both India and Pakistan seeking their fourth Asia Cup Watch
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Pahalgam fallout: Pakistan doubtful for Asia Cup hockey in Rajgir
NEW DELHI: The national federation is awaiting a government advisory but Pakistan's participation in this year's Hero Asia Cup hockey tournament in India is in serious doubt because of the prevalent tension between the two countries after the Pahalgam terror attack. The Asia Cup will be staged in Rajgir, Bihar from August 27 to September 7. Hosts India, Pakistan, Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, Oman and Chinese Taipei are scheduled to participate in the 12th edition of the continental showpiece, a qualifying tournament for next year's World Cup to be held in Netherlands and Belgium. "It is too early to say anything but we will follow the government's directive on this issue, which has been the case in the past," HI secretary general Bholanath Singh told PTI. "We can't predict anything right now especially after the recent barbaric Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor that India conducted following that," he said. "There is still close to three months for the tournament but we will abide by what our government suggests us. There are no two ways about it," he added. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives and injured many, the government ordered all Pakistani nationals to leave the country and revoked their visas. A fortnight after the gruesome incident, India responded launched 'Operation Sindoor' and carried out missile strikes on terrorist hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This led to further escalation as Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks, which were neutralised by India's robust air defence system. India responded by hitting military installations and air defence systems located in prominent Pakistani cities like Lahore and Rawalpindi among others. The two countries agreed to a ceasefire on May 10 after Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations reached out to his Indian counterpart. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation, made it clear that any engagement with Pakistan will hinge on clear evidence of action against terrorism by that country. "If the government advisory does not give an all clear than Pakistan won't travel to India. It all depends on the government position at that time," a federation source told PTI.
