Web Desk
LAHORE: Pakistan will officially not be sending its junior hockey team to the upcoming FIH Hockey Junior World Cup in India, with PHF president Tariq Hussain Bugti confirming the news on yesterday.
According to PHF officials, heightened political tensions between the two neighbours have made participation impossible. The Junior World Cup is scheduled for November 28 to December 10 in Chennai and Madurai, but Pakistan’s absence was expected after the PHF took a similar stance on the ongoing Asia Cup in Rajgir, where the national side also opted out.
Bugti told reporters in Lahore that while the decision will undoubtedly hurt the country’s hockey prospects, the prevailing political situation left the federation with little choice. “With a war‑like situation between Pakistan and India, there is no possibility of sending our team across the border,” Bugti said. “We have informed the International Hockey Federation (FIH), and Pakistan will now look to qualify for the senior World Cup through the alternate route of qualifying rounds.”
Pakistan, winners of the inaugural Hockey Junior World Cup, were placed in Group B of this year’s tournament with India, Chile, and Switzerland for company. The hosts had raised no objections to Pakistan’s participation, as their policy allows matches against Pakistan in multi‑nation events. However, Pakistan’s government, which has the final say on any national team’s participation in India, does not view the country as a suitable host in the current political climate.
This decision means Pakistan will miss just its third Hockey Junior World Cup after previously sitting out the 2016 edition, which also took place in India and failing to qualify for the 2001 tournament.
While Pakistan’s absence from back‑to‑back tournaments in India underscores the cost of political hostilities on sport, the federation remains hopeful that the Pro League campaign will help rebuild momentum and keep the Green Shirts in touch with world hockey’s elite.
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