Pakistan Withdraws from Junior Hockey World Cup in India
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed on Friday that Pakistan has pulled out of the Junior Hockey World Cup scheduled for November-December 2025 in India. The tournament will be held across Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10.
Key Developments
- Pakistan officially notified FIH of their withdrawal from the tournament
- FIH will soon announce a replacement team for Group B
- This marks Pakistan’s second withdrawal from an Indian-hosted event this year
Official Statement from FIH
In an official statement to PTI, FIH confirmed: “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 federation added that “the team replacing Pakistan for this event will be announced soon.”
Tournament Impact
Pakistan was originally placed in Group B alongside hosts India, Chile, and Switzerland. Their withdrawal creates a vacancy that FIH must fill ahead of the tournament draw.
Recent Context of India-Pakistan Sporting Relations
This withdrawal continues a pattern of strained sporting relations between the two nations. Pakistan previously pulled out of the men’s Asia Cup held in Rajgir, Bihar from August 29 to September 7 this year.
The deterioration in sporting ties follows the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent Operation Sindoor. The Indian government has implemented a policy avoiding bilateral sporting contests with Pakistan while continuing participation in multi-nation tournaments.
Recent incidents include Indian cricket skipper Suryakumar Yadav refusing to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart during the Asia Cup.
Hockey India’s Response
Hockey India expressed surprise at the development. HI secretary general Bholanth Singh told PTI: “We have no information from FIH that Pakistan has withdrawn.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.”
Singh added: “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 upto FIH to announce a replacement for Pakistan.”
Pakistan’s Neutral Venue Proposal
In an interesting twist, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary general Rana Mujahid revealed they have requested FIH to arrange a neutral venue to allow their participation.
Mujahid explained in Lahore: “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.”
The Olympian further stated: “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.”
