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Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey has backed Pakistan's inclusion in next month's Asia Cup 2025 supposed to be held in India. The former Indian hockey skipper welcomed the move made by the government to allow the neighbouring nation to compete in the upcoming multi-nation tournaments in India.
Tirkey further added that he is yet to get an official confirmation from the sports ministry regarding the same. On Thursday, a ministry source revealed to news agency PTI that the Ministry of Home Affairs has given a nod for the participation of Pakistan in next month's event and at the same time, they are strict on any bilateral engagements with Pakistan.
It is being further learnt that Pakistan hockey teams won't be stopped from competing in the Asia Cup and subsequently the junior World Cup in India as blocking of the nation from multilateral competitions staged in the country would be a violation of then Olympic Charter. The Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in Rajgir, Bihar from August 27 to September 7 and the junior World Cup will be organised in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10.
Three-time Olympian Tirkey further said that they have not received any official information yet as circulated by the media, if government has given approval, it is a good decision for then sport. He further said that India will be going to host two important tournaments - the Asia Cup and junior WC and Pakistan is one of the participating nations in both.
Tirkey also said that hockey matches between India and Pakistan are good for the promotion of the game because people love to watch the Asian giants play against each other. The former player also said that there has been no talk with the Pakistan Hockey Federation till now in the same regard.
