Pakistan has withdrawn from the upcoming FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup scheduled to be held in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10, deepening the freeze in sporting ties between the two neighbours.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed the development on Friday, stating that a replacement team for Pakistan will be announced soon. “We can confirm that the Pakistan Hockey Federation has notified the International Hockey Federation (FIH) that its team initially qualified for the upcoming FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 won't participate eventually,” the FIH said in a statement.
Pakistan were drawn in Group B alongside India, Chile and Switzerland. This marks the second major hockey event in India that Pakistan has opted out of, following its withdrawal from the Men’s Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, earlier this year.
The decision comes amid deteriorating relations between the two countries after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent Operation Sindoor. New Delhi has since adopted a policy of not engaging Pakistan in bilateral sporting events, though contests in multinational tournaments will continue.
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Hockey India, however, said it had received no official communication from the world body. “We have no information from FIH that Pakistan has withdrawn. I had a conversation with Pakistan Hockey Federation officials a month-and-a-half back, and they had confirmed their participation,” said Hockey India secretary general Bholanth Singh. “What transpired after that I have no knowledge. Our duty is to conduct the best tournament as hosts and hope India wins the title. It is now up to FIH to announce a replacement for Pakistan,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary general Rana Mujahid said the decision not to travel to India was taken “in principle” owing to ongoing tensions. “We have, at the same time, urged the FIH to arrange for a neutral venue to allow us to participate and play our matches in the Junior World Cup as missing out on major events because they are being held in India is hurting our hockey and not helping in the development of our players,” Mujahid said from Lahore.
He added, “We have told the FIH how do they expect us to go and play in India when their athletes are not even willing to shake hands in different sports even at neutral venues. FIH says all the events were awarded to India well before the conflict so no one anticipated such a situation.”
The FIH has not yet confirmed whether Pakistan’s request for a neutral venue will be considered.
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