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Time of India
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Pak teams will come for Asia Cup, Junior World Cup in India: HI
Dilip Tirkey CHENNAI: After weeks of uncertainty surrounding their participation and mixed signals, it is now official that the Pakistan hockey team will take part in both major tournaments – the Asia Cup and the Junior Men's Hockey World Cup — in India. The Asian meet is set to be held in Rajgir from August 27 to September 7, while the Junior World Cup will take place from November 28 to December 10 across two venues: Chennai and Madurai. Confirming the development, Hockey India (HI) treasurer and president of the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, Sekar J Manoharan, told TOI that both the senior and junior teams from Pakistan have applied for visas. 'Pakistan's teams will definitely be coming. They've already submitted visa applications. The senior men's team has applied with a contingent of 18 players and seven support staff,' Sekar said after the inauguration of the Sub-Junior Men's National Hockey Championship here on Monday. Sekar also mentioned that the Indian junior team will arrive in Chennai in the first week of October for its preparatory camp. Earlier, there had been indications that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) might not send teams for the upcoming tournaments in India. It was speculated that the PHF had written to the FIH (International Hockey Federation) and the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), expressing their reservations over sending the teams to India. HI President Dilip Tirkey said the federation has not received any official communication yet. 'We too are hearing these talks, but we haven't received any news from the Pakistan team officially yet. If we do receive it, we will take it up with FIH and they will decide how to go about it,' Tirkey told TOI. 'Selectors told to act if form dips' The India men's team endured a poor campaign in the recent FIH Pro League, finishing eighth and suffering seven straight defeats. Reacting to the dismal performance, Tirkey said the federation is in talks with head coach Craig Fulton and the selectors. 'The Pro League is very important for us. And now, we have more important tournaments coming up. If we see players who are not performing well and are unable to deliver, it's on the selectors to take a call. And if there is a fall in form for some players who have been playing for a long time, we've told the selectors to watch out and take action.' Govt backing key to hosting big events After Chennai successfully hosted the Asian Champions Trophy in 2023, Tirkey said HI is confident of staging more marquee events here, thanks to strong support from the Tamil Nadu government. 'TN govt supported us very much last time when we hosted ACT. And where there's full support from the govt, we get the confidence to host international and domestic competitions. This is why we are hosting the Junior World Cup here. The Indian government knows how important security will be, so it will be given accordingly,' said Tirkey. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
First Post
a day ago
- Politics
- First Post
Pak Likely To Snub Asia Cup In India: Security Or Politics? First Sports With Rupha Ramani
Pak Likely To Snub Asia Cup In India: Security Or Politics? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani | N18G Pak Likely To Snub Asia Cup In India: Security Or Politics? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani | N18G The India-Pakistan sporting rivalry just hit another low — this time off the hockey field. Pakistan is not willing to send its team for the Hockey Asia Cup in Rajgir, citing "security concerns." But is it really about safety, or is it politics once again steering their playbook? After India extended sporting courtesy by clearing visas for the Pakistani team, PHF's statement smells strongly of government interference. From past terror attacks to present-day drama, Rupha Ramani breaks down the tangled web of geopolitics and sportsmanship. Is Pakistan playing victim instead of playing games? See More
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First Post
4 days ago
- Business
- First Post
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to make final call as hockey team faces financial hurdles to participate in Pro League
Pakistan hockey team needs approximately $2.5 million to compete in the FIH Pro League 2025-26 but they are struggling to raise funds and the federation is now dependent on PM Shehbaz Sharif. read more Pakistan hockey team has been invited to take part in FIH Pro League, but need to raise required funds first. Image: Imran butt on X Pakistan hockey team's participation in the upcoming FIH Pro League 2025-26 now depends on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's decision, as the Pakistan Hockey Federation struggles to arrange the required $2.5 million to take part in the tournament. The FIH Pro League is a top-tier hockey contest in which the world's best teams play against each other over two legs. Pakistan had initially failed to qualify for the Pro League after losing to New Zealand in the 2024-25 FIH Nations Cup. However, they have been offered a chance to join the tournament by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Wednesday after New Zealand pulled out of the contest. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan hockey faces financial crisis Pakistan have to confirm their participation by 12 August, but the cost involved in participating in the tournament is proving to be a stumbling block. As per an estimation by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), the team will need 700 million Pakistani Rupees (approximately $2.5 million) to complete the whole campaign. However, the cash-strapped PHF finds itself unable to raise the money, approaching the Pakistan Sports Board for the funds. Reportedly, the Pakistan Sports Board has informed the hockey federation that it doesn't have enough funds. The PSB has also asked PHF to clarify where the funds allocated to them since last year have been spent. 'Concerning the invitation to participate in the FIH Pro League, [the] members authorised the PSB president Rana Sanaullah to take the final decision. It was agreed that a formal letter, outlining the rationale and objectives of participation, would be sent by the PSB President to the Prime Minister,' Pakistan Sports Board said after a meeting with the hockey federation, as per Dawn. Now the ball is in Pakistan PM Shebaz Sherif's court as he is likely to take a final call on the team's participation in the hockey Pro League tournament. Incidentally, Pakistan also missed participation in the inaugural Pro League in 2019 due to a financial crisis. They were later fined 170,000 euros by the PHF.
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Pakistan hockey faces cash crunch, uncertain about Pro League participation
The Pakistan hockey team's participation in the 2025-26 FIH Pro League lies in jeopardy because of financial crunch, derailing the three-time Olympic champions' much-anticipated comeback at the international stage. The Pakistan men's hockey team, which has won the World Cup four times, has been invited to compete in the FIH Pro League 2025-26 after New Zealand, who had earned direct qualification by winning the 2024-25 Nations Cup, decided not to participate in the upcoming season. The International Hockey Federation (FIH), the game's governing body, formally extended the invitation to Pakistan on Wednesday and had given them a deadline till August 12 to inform their confirmation. Pakistan, which has failed to qualify for the last three Olympics and also World Cup, has been given an opportunity by the FIH to compete against top tier teams Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, India, Netherlands and Spain in the competition that will be held from December, 2025 till June, 2026. But the problem is that the cash-strapped Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) doesn't have funds to send the team for the Pro League. The PHF have now requested the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to release 700 million rupees (around USD 2.5 million) for the entire campaign. The state run PSB, at its recent annual meeting, made it clear that it doesn't have the funds to ensure Pakistan's participation in the Pro League. The PSB, in fact, has already directed the PHF to submit detailed accounts of the funds allocated to them since last year and have flatly refused to release more funds to the national federation to pay daily and travel allowances of players and officials, who went to the recent FIH Nations Cup. Pakistan lost in the final of the FIH Nations Cup to New Zealand, who automatically qualified for the Pro League. But New Zealand have informed the FIH that they wouldn't be sending their team, as a result of which second-best Pakistan have got a chance to compete against the top tier teams. "But whether this will be possible has to be seen as the PSB will send a summary to the Prime Minister for allocation of special funds to allow the PHF to send the team to the Pro League," an official in the PSB said. He made it clear that because of the failure of the PHF to update the PSB on how they had spent funds released to them since last year the Prime Minister, who is patron-in-chief of the PHF might opt for a change in the top leadership of the federation before approving special funds of 700 million rupees. Rasheedul Hassan, an Olympic gold medallist who has launched a campaign against the PHF, said unfortunately the officials who had managed the federation affairs for last many years had failed to keep a clean image. When the inaugural Pro League was held, the PHF had initially confirmed participation in the event but later backed out citing lack of funds as a result it ended up paying a fine of 170,000 euros to the FIH. For record, Pakistan is the most successful national team in the Asian Games history, with eight gold medals -- 1958, 1962, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1990, and 2010, the highest number of times a country has become Asian Champion. Pakistan is also the only Asian team to have won the prestigious Champions Trophy thrice -- 1978, 1980 and 1994. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Pakistan unsure of participation in FIH Pro League 2025-26 due to cash crunch
The Pakistan hockey team's participation in the 2025-26 FIH Pro League lies in jeopardy because of financial crunch, derailing the three-time Olympic champions' much-anticipated comeback at the international stage. The Pakistan men's hockey team, which has won the World Cup four times, has been invited to compete in the FIH Pro League 2025-26 after New Zealand, which had earned direct qualification by winning the 2024-25 Nations Cup, decided not to participate in the upcoming season. The International Hockey Federation (FIH), the game's governing body, formally extended the invitation to Pakistan on Wednesday and had given them a deadline till August 12 to inform their confirmation. Pakistan, which has failed to qualify for the last three Olympics and also World Cup, has been given an opportunity by the FIH to compete against top tier teams Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, India, Netherlands and Spain in the competition that will be held from December, 2025 till June, 2026. But the problem is that the cash-strapped Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) doesn't have funds to send the team for the Pro League. The PHF have now requested the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to release 700 million rupees (around USD 2.5 million) for the entire campaign. The state run PSB, at its recent annual meeting, made it clear that it doesn't have the funds to ensure Pakistan's participation in the Pro League. ALSO READ | India A ends Euro Tour campaign with 2-8 loss against Netherlands The PSB, in fact, has already directed the PHF to submit detailed accounts of the funds allocated to them since last year and have flatly refused to release more funds to the national federation to pay daily and travel allowances of players and officials, who went to the recent FIH Nations Cup. Pakistan lost in the final of the FIH Nations Cup to New Zealand, who automatically qualified for the Pro League. But New Zealand have informed the FIH that they wouldn't be sending their team, as a result of which second-best Pakistan have got a chance to compete against the top tier teams. 'But whether this will be possible has to be seen as the PSB will send a summary to the Prime Minister for allocation of special funds to allow the PHF to send the team to the Pro League,' an official in the PSB said. He made it clear that because of the failure of the PHF to update the PSB on how they had spent funds released to them since last year the Prime Minister, who is patron-in-chief of the PHF might opt for a change in the top leadership of the federation before approving special funds of 700 million rupees. Rasheedul Hassan, an Olympic gold medallist who has launched a campaign against the PHF, said unfortunately the officials who had managed the federation affairs for last many years had failed to keep a clean image. When the inaugural Pro League was held, the PHF had initially confirmed participation in the event but later backed out citing lack of funds as a result it ended up paying a fine of 170,000 euros to the FIH. For record, Pakistan is the most successful national team in the Asian Games history, with eight gold medals -- 1958, 1962, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1990, and 2010, the highest number of times a country has become Asian Champion. Pakistan is also the only Asian team to have won the prestigious Champions Trophy thrice -- 1978, 1980 and 1994.
