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India.com
05-07-2025
- Sport
- India.com
Pakistan awaits government nod for Asia Cup and Junior Hockey World Cup participation
Pakistan Hockey team. New Delhi: High-ranking officials of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) have stated that both organizations are still waiting to receive official government clearance to take part in two big international hockey events to be held in India later this year. An Indian source at the ministry of sports said on Thursday there would be no restriction of the teams of Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup later in the month & later this year in the Junior World Cup. The official stressed that banning the participation in multilateral events would be against the Olympic Charter. The Asia Cup will be staged in Rajgir, Bihar, between August 27 to September 7 and the Junior World Cup will be held in Chennai and Madurai between November 28 and December 10. PHF awaiting for response According to PHF Secretary General Rana Mujahid, the federation had requested the PSB through an official request to allow its sending of teams across the borders. 'But the PSB has forwarded the official query to the concerned ministries and they are yet to respond,' he explained. Khurrum Shahzad, PSB spokesman also said no final decision has been conveyed. 'Participation as of now remains unconfirmed until the government conveys its policy on sending sports teams to India for any event,' he said. Shahzad further said that the PSB had in turn forwarded the request to Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination which had forwarded it to Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A verdict on such departments is yet to be made.
India Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Pakistan yet to get government clearance for Asia Cup, Junior Hockey World Cup in India
Senior officials from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) have confirmed that they are still awaiting government clearance to participate in two major hockey tournaments scheduled in India later this year — the Men's Asia Cup and the Junior World Asia Cup is slated to be held in Rajgir, Bihar from August 27 to September 7, while the Junior World Cup is set to take place in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December Secretary General Rana Mujahid said that a formal request has been submitted to the PSB seeking approval to send national teams to India, but no final word has been received. 'The PSB has forwarded the official query to the concerned ministries, and they are yet to respond,' he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. PSB spokesperson Khurrum Shahzad added that participation remains unconfirmed until the government communicates its stance. 'We have sent the PHF's request to the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, which in turn has forwarded it to the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A decision is awaited,' Shahzad an Indian sports ministry source clarified on Thursday that Pakistan will not be barred from competing in either event, as doing so would contravene the Olympic Charter, which prohibits political interference in multi-national sporting competitions.'We are not against any team competing in India in a multi-national event. Blocking Pakistan would be a violation of the Olympic Charter. However, there will be no relaxation when it comes to bilateral events,' the source said. The ministry's position also opens the door for Pakistani participation in other upcoming tournaments in India, including the Junior World Cup of Shooting and the World Para Athletics Championships, both scheduled later this year in New and Pakistan have not engaged in any bilateral sporting contest since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Even multi-lateral encounters have come under question in the wake of recent geopolitical tensions, including the April Pahalgam terror attack and India's subsequent military response through Operation Sindoor. However, the Olympic Charter, which treats sport as a vehicle for peace and cooperation, compels host nations to accommodate all qualified participants in global events.'Even Russia and Ukraine continue to compete in the same tournaments despite being at war. That's how international sport operates, and we are respecting those norms,' the Indian ministry source for the Asia Cup of cricket, which may feature a high-voltage India-Pakistan clash in September, the official said the ministry has not yet received a request from the BCCI and will address the issue when approached.- EndsMust Watch
