Pakistan hockey Olympians communicate to the media in Lahore on July 12, 2025, urging that the nationwide staff not be despatched to India for the Hockey Asia Cup and calling for the event to be held at a impartial venue. — Reporter
LAHORE: Pakistan’s hockey Olympians on Saturday known as on the Asian Hockey Federation to relocate the upcoming Asia Cup Hockey Match from India, warning that if the event is just not moved, Pakistan’s matches needs to be held at a impartial venue.
Talking at a press convention in Lahore, 1984 Los Angeles Olympic gold medalist and former Olympian Tauqeer Dar expressed critical issues about sending the nationwide staff to India below the present political and diplomatic tensions.
“Even when the gamers journey to India, the setting they are going to be positioned in will really feel like confinement. Athletes can’t carry out below such restrictive and hostile situations,” Tauqeer said.
He firmly urged that the Asia Cup be held at a impartial venue, reiterating that Pakistan shouldn’t ship its hockey staff to India below any circumstances.
“If the event can’t be shifted altogether, then on the very least, Pakistan’s matches needs to be scheduled at a impartial location,” Tauqeer insisted.
Olympian Khawaja Junaid confused that any choice about participation within the Asia Cup ought to align with the federal government’s official coverage and nationwide pursuits.
“We’re virtually in a state of conflict with India. They’ve reduce off our water provide, how can we even think about sending our athletes there?” Junaid stated.
Junaid additionally urged the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to undertake a agency stance much like that of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) relating to participation in tournaments hosted by India.
“The Asia Cup ought to solely be performed at a impartial venue,” he stated.
“The PHF should comply with the instance of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who took a robust place on the cricket Asia Cup subject. If a impartial venue is just not accepted, then the occasion needs to be moved out of India altogether.”
It’s pertinent to say that the Males’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to be held in Rajgir, India, from August 27 to September seven, 2025.
Nevertheless, rising political tensions and safety issues have forged doubt over Pakistan’s participation within the event.
Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo Information.
