Hockey
Following a terror strike supported by Pakistan in Kashmir, questions surround Pakistan’s Asian Hockey Cup participation in India. Their admission or expulsion will depend on the Centre’s August ruling.
Anshu Kashid
Pune | May 15, 2025: After a deadly terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam – allegedly backed by a Pakistan-funded group – India launched a swift counter-response under Operation Sindoor. Now, the diplomatic fallout is casting shadows over Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming Asian Hockey Cup, set to be held in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 27 to September 7.
Top Asian countries including India, Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, Oman, and Chinese Taipei will square off in the event, a route to the 2026 Hockey World Cup. But Pakistan’s presence currently depends on central government political choices.
Hockey India General Secretary Bholanath Singh commented, “There are still three months to go. We are closely following central government directives and will act accordingly.”
If New Delhi officially denies Pakistan’s entry, the tournament may either proceed with seven teams or potentially see a last-minute inclusion of a substitute nation. Sources indicate that this decision will rest with the Asian Hockey Federation.
As the countdown to the Asian Cup begins, all eyes are on the geopolitical pulse and the Centre’s stance on Pakistan’s presence in Indian territory for a high-stakes sporting event.
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