Pakistan pulls out of Junior Hockey World Cup
Pakistan withdrew from the Junior Hockey World Cup after officials rejected its request to play matches at neutral locations. The International Hockey Federation confirmed the decision and said a replacement team would be announced soon. Pakistan Hockey Federation General Secretary Rana Mujahid stated the team could not compete because the tournament takes place in India and harms player development.
Hockey India General Secretary Bholanath Singh said his organization has not received formal notification about the withdrawal. India banned bilateral sports competitions with Pakistan in April under a new government policy. The nations can still meet at global events. The tournament runs from Nov. 28 through Dec. 10 in Chennai and Madurai with 24 participating teams.
