President Hockey India Dilip Tirkey welcomed the decision to allow Pakistan teams to participate in the upcoming tournaments with multiple countries in India. Source of the Ministry of Sports today confirmed India on Thursday The fact that Pakistani hockey teams will be able to travel to India for the next month Asia Cup and the Junior World Championship at the end of this year.
The decision was made as blocking the participation of Pakistan would be contrary to the Olympic Charter. The Asia Cup is scheduled to take place in Rajgir in Bihar from August 27 to September 7, while the Junior World Championship will take place in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10. When he spoke to PTI, Tirkey said he had to receive an official confirmation from the ministry, but that is a good decision for sport.
“We haven’t received official information yet and I also hear it from the media. But if the government has approved, it is a very good decision for hockey,” Tirkey said. “India will host two important tournaments. The Asian Cup will take place in Rajgir and the Junior World Championship in Chennai and Madurai, and Pakistan is one of the participating countries.”
“Good for Publicity Games”
India and Pakistan were grouped for the Junior World Championship And Tirkey believes that Asian giants who will behave against each other for the publicity of the game and the success of the tournament.
“This is a good publicity for the game and it will also be good for the success of the tournament,” he said. “We are doing our preparations. After the recent tension between the two countries, it will probably be the first visit to any team from Pakistan to India, so that solid security measures will be in a corresponding way.”
Tirkey also said it was in contact with Pakistani hockey federation about team participation as soon as the picture manifests itself.
“There is no recent communication, but apparently it is a participant’s country and we will communicate as soon as the picture is clear,” Tirkey said.
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Published on:
3 July 2025
