Pakistan's hockey team will not be stopped from competing in the Men's Hockey Asia Cup that will be played in India from August 27 to September 7 this year. The development comes within a couple of months after the tensions between India and Pakistan escalated to the highest order across the border.
"We are not against any team competing in India in a multi-national competition. But bilateral is different. International sports demand that we cannot back out from competing. Russia and Ukraine are at war, but they show up at multi-national events," a sports ministry source said on Thursday. Pakistan's hockey team last toured India back in 2023, when they finished fifth in the Asian Champions Trophy.
8 Teams set to lock horns in Hockey Asia Cup
As far as the Asia Cup is concerned, a total of 8 teams, including India and Pakistan, are set to participate. India qualified for the tournament as hosts, while the other five teams - China, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan and South Korea. Oman and Chinese Taipei qualified for the tournament by making it to the final of the AHF Cup earlier this year in April. The Asia Cup is massive for all participating teams as the winner of the tournament will qualify for the Men's FIH Hockey World Cup that is scheduled to be played next year.
India have won Hockey Asia Cup three times in history
The previous edition of the Asia Cup was played in 2022 when South Korea won it for the record-extending fifth time. Malaysia were the runner-up while India finished third, beating Japan. India have won the Asia Cup three times in history, but their last triumph came in 2017 when they defeated Malaysia in the final. With a place in the World Cup at stake and being the hosts, the men in blue will be keen on lifting the trophy this year.
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