Pakistan have withdrawn from the upcoming Junior Hockey World Cup to be held in India during November-December 2025, as confirmed by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Friday. The tournament, scheduled in Chennai and Madurai, now awaits the announcement of a replacement team, amid deteriorating sporting ties between the two nations following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India’s Operation Sindoor.This marks Pakistan’s second withdrawal from an Indian tournament, following their earlier pullout from the men’s Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar held from August 29 to September 7 this year.Pakistan were originally placed in Group B alongside India, Chile, and Switzerland for the tournament spanning from November 28 to December 28.The Indian government has recently implemented a new policy that restricts bilateral sporting contests with Pakistan while maintaining participation in multi-nation tournaments.“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,” FIH stated in their official communication to PTI.Hockey India’s secretary general Bholanth Singh expressed unawareness about the withdrawal. “We have no information from FIH that Pakistan has withdrawn. I had a conversation with Pakistan Hockey Federation officials a month-and-a-half-back, and they had confirmed their participation,” Singh said.He further added, “What transpired after that I have no knowledge. Our duty is to conduct the best tournament as hosts and hope India wins the title. It is now upto FIH to announce a replacement for Pakistan.”The Pakistan Hockey Federation has shown interest in participating at a neutral venue. PHF secretary general Rana Mujahid explained their position from Lahore.“We have, at the same time, urged the FIH to arrange for a neutral venue to allow us to participate and play our matches in the Junior World Cup as missing out on major events because they are being held in India. is hurting our hockey and not helping in the development of our players,” Mujahid stated.He further elaborated, “We have told the FIH how do they expect us to go and play in India when their athletes are not even willing to shake hands in different sports even at neutral venues. FIH says all the events were awarded to India well before the conflict so no one anticipated such a situation.”The sporting tension between the two nations was recently highlighted during the Asia Cup cricket competition when Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav declined to shake hands with his Pakistan counterpart.
