Pakistan to Play in India: Govt Approves Visit for Asia Cup, Says 'We Won’t Stop Anyone

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu)- The Indian Sports Ministry has given permission to the Pakistan Hockey team to come to India to play in the Asia Cup to be held in India next month. This information was given by a source in the Sports Ministry on Thursday. This means that the Pakistan Hockey team will come to India to play the Asia Cup and the Junior Hockey World Cup.

The source said that we are not against any team participating in multinational tournaments in India. But bilateral tournaments are different. International sports demand that we cannot back down from competing. There is a war going on between Russia and Ukraine, but they participate in multinational tournaments. The Asia Cup Hockey Tournament will be played in Rajgir, Bihar from 27 August to 7 September. The report said that the government is not against any team participating in multi-nation events in India. However, it has also been said that bilateral is different from this. Giving the example of Russia and Ukraine, a source in the Sports Ministry said, "Russia and Ukraine are fighting each other but they also participate in multi-nation events."

Due to 'Operation Sindoor', there were doubts about Pakistan's participation in the Asia Cup hockey tournament next month. Apart from the Asia Cup, Pakistan's team will also be allowed to play in the Junior World Cup to be held in November-December.