6 days ago
Pakistan set to take part in Hockey Asia Cup in Bihar next month
Pakistan's hockey teams will be allowed to compete in the Asia Cup and Junior World Cup—to be held in India next month—a source has confirmed to Sportstar.
'Pakistan's 31-member hockey team has got clearance from the External Affairs Ministry to participate in the ASIA CUP HOCKEY,' the source said.
While the Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in Rajgir, in the State of Bihar, from August 27 to September 7, the Junior World Cup will take place in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10.
'This time, all participating teams will be accommodated in Rajgir only, not in Bodh Gaya. That way, the commute, which the women's team had to undertake last year, is completely done away with,' the source added.
'We are also developing our state sports academy hostels and dining spaces. We are upgrading it. We are making each room air-conditioned and providing the menu that is given to us by Hockey India.
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So we are accommodating as many as possible in the state sports academy and a few in hotels and Nalanda University guesthouses -- all in and around the vicinity of the field of play.
We have also come up with a second turf just by the side of the earlier turf. That has a floodlight facility. We are ensuring foolproof security by installing CCTV cameras, and of course, deployment of forces wherever it is required.'
India and Pakistan are also scheduled to face off in the Asia Cup in cricket. However, according to reports, the BCCI is yet to reach out to the ministry regarding the issue.
India and Pakistan's bilateral sporting engagements have come under increasing scrutiny after the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 tourists were gunned down in April in the State of Jammu & Kashmir.
India retaliated with Operation Sindoor in May, striking terror infrastructure in Pakistan, which led to a tense military showdown between the countries.
