LAHORE (Kashmir English): The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president, Tariq Hussain Bugti, confirmed that Pakistan will not be sending its junior hockey team to the next International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey Junior World Cup in India.
PHF officials say that increased political tensions between the neighbouring countries, Pakistan and India, have rendered participation impossible.
The Junior World Cup will be held from November 28 to December 10 in Chennai and Madurai, but Pakistan’s withdrawal was anticipated following the PHF’s adoption of the same stance on the ongoing Asia Cup at Rajgir, where the national team also skipped it.
Bugti informed the media in Lahore that the move will certainly affect the nation’s hockey chances, but the current political environment did not leave the federation with many alternatives.
“With a war‑like scenario between Pakistan and India, there is no way of sending our team across the border,” Bugti added.
“We have informed the International Hockey Federation (FIH), and Pakistan will now try to qualify for the senior World Cup through the alternative route of qualifying rounds.”
Pakistan, the champions of the first-ever Hockey Junior World Cup, were seeded in Group B of this year’s tournament alongside India, Chile, and Switzerland.
The hosts had not objected to Pakistan’s participation since their policy permits Pakistan in multi‑nation tournaments. Pakistan’s government, though, which has the authority to make or break any national team’s travel to India, does not consider the country a good host at the present political conditions.
This move will result in Pakistan missing only its third Hockey Junior World Cup after earlier boycotting the 2016 edition, which was also in India, and not qualifying for the 2001 event.
Though Pakistan’s non-appearance in consecutive tournaments in India highlights the price of political tensions on sport, the federation hopes the Pro League campaign will regain the momentum and maintain the Green Shirts in contact with world hockey’s best.
