Pakistan’s senior and junior men’s hockey teams will be allowed to participate in upcoming international tournaments in India, a Sports Ministry source said on Thursday.
The source confirmed that the Pakistani teams will compete in the Men’s Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 27 to September 7, and the Junior Men’s World Cup, which will take place in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10.
“We are not against any team competing in India in a multi-national competition. If we try to stop Pakistan, it would be seen as a violation of the Olympic Charter. But bilateral is different, and there will be no relaxation on that front,” the source told PTI.
The clarification comes amid continued diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, which have halted bilateral sporting ties, particularly in cricket. However, under the Olympic Charter, host countries are expected to allow participation of all qualified nations in multi-sport or multi-nation events.
The Asia Cup and Junior World Cup are both organised by the Asian Hockey Federation and the International Hockey Federation (FIH), respectively.
