Despite heightened tensions after the June 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 24 Indian lives, the Indian government has granted Pakistan’s hockey teams permission to compete in two major tournaments on Indian soil later this year — the Asia Cup and the FIH Junior World Cup.
The move is widely seen as a strategic decision aimed at protecting India’s long-term sporting goals, particularly its bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games. Senior government officials acknowledged that denying Pakistan entry would have directly violated the Olympic Charter, risking censure from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and potentially derailing India’s Olympic aspirations.
We must follow the Olympic Charter and cannot refuse entry to any team. Had the government denied entry to Pakistan, the IOC would have raised serious concerns, which could have damaged our prospects of hosting the 2036 Olympics.
The Asia Cup will be held in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 27 to September 7, while the Junior World Cup is scheduled from November 28 to December 10. The tournaments are expected to produce high-voltage encounters, with India and Pakistan drawn to face each other in the group stage.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions across the sporting fraternity. Former India goalkeeper and coach Mir Ranjan Negi strongly endorsed the move, calling it vital for the integrity of sport.
When we’re talking about bidding for the 2036 Olympics, we cannot refuse participation of any team, even if it is Pakistan. Sports and politics cannot go together.
“I’ve proudly played for the country, but hockey isn’t the same as it used to be. Hockey in Asia needs India-Pakistan matches. These games are in the interest of the sport. Look around — multiple wars are happening globally, but nations still compete. Otherwise, it will kill sport altogether.”
I stand by the government’s decision. If they’ve cleared Pakistan’s participation, I’m sure it was taken after careful thought. If there’s no objection from the government, I welcome Pakistan to play both the Asia Cup and the Junior World Cup.
However, not everyone supports the move. A senior player, requesting anonymity, questioned the timing. “It’s not even two months since the Pahalgam attack that killed 24 innocent Indians, and now we are allowing the country believed to be behind it to compete here? This isn’t fair. We shouldn’t bow to IOC pressure,” the player remarked.
While the Asia Cup and the Junior World Cup promise blockbuster India-Pakistan contests, the shadow of recent events will likely loom large — both on and off the pitch.
