Citing political tensions, Pakistan pull out of junior hockey World Cup in India

New Delhi: Citing political differences with neighbouring nation India, Pakistan have pulled out of the upcoming junior hockey World Cup. The showpiece hockey event is set to be held in India, Chennai and Madurai, in the November-December window and with just a month's window remaining, Pakistan have announced that they won't participate in the event.

As per a report in news agency PTI, Pakistan hockey has confirmed the development to the International Hockey Federation (FIH). The FIH has further stated that the team set to replace Pakistan in the marquee event would 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,' said FIH in a statement released to PTI.

'The team replacing Pakistan for this event will be announced soon,' the statement added.

The sporting ties between the two nations have been hit since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India's retaliation in the from of Operation Sindoor.

Meanwhile, Pakistan were placed in Group B alongside India, Chile and Switzerland and remains to be seen that which team will replace the Men in Green. This happens to be the second event in India that Pakistan has withdrawn from after the men's Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar held from August 29 to September 7 this year.

This move from Pakistan hockey highlights the strained political tensions between the two countries which has led to the deteriorating of the sporting ties following the Pahalgam terror attack in April and Operation Sindoor. Post this, the Indian government announced a new policy under which it will nt engage in any sort of bilateral sporting contests with Pakistan but will continue to compete against the arch-rivals in the multi-nation tournaments.