Hockey India (HI) Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh on Wednesday urged that if the Pakistan hockey crew can come to India for the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai, then the Men in Blue must also tour their neighbouring nation. If India males’s hockey crew didn’t win a gold medal in Asian Games they should play in Pakistan to qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) final month confirmed that China, Pakistan and Spain will host the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers happening from January 13 to 21 in 2024.

Pakistan is ready to host a world hockey occasion after almost 19 years. Eight groups will compete in Lahore from January 13 to January 24 of subsequent yr. Pakistan final hosted a FIH competitors in 2004.

“Indian government’s Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said very clearly that the Indian team will not be stopped for going anywhere to play an important tournament. That is his statement and this is an Olympic qualifying tournament. It is a major tournament. I don’t think the Indian government will say no to sending a team for such an important tournament. If needed I will speak to the government after all it is a question of the Olympics. I don’t think there will be any hindrance to this. The rest is up to the Pakistan government and how they organize a tournament. How is the security there? Pakistan team is coming here to play then why can’t we? Sports Minister is very clear on this that there will be no hindrance to tournaments like this. Cricket is cricket and hockey is hockey,” Bhola Nath Singh stated in a press convention.

China and Spain are the opposite two nations scheduled to host the boys’s and ladies’s competitions, together with Pakistan. Each event will encompass 8 groups (16 groups per gender in complete).

Women: Changzhou, China (one event) and Valencia, Spain (one event).

Men: Lahore, Pakistan (one event) and Valencia, Spain (one event).

The high 3 groups in every of those FIH Hockey Olympic Qualification Tournaments will qualify for Paris 2024.

“Well I think there are some strong examples. You had England, Australian, New Zealand cricket going again and again to Pakistan. They have created a very positive atmosphere there. As you heard Hockey India’s commitment towards it. So, I think all other things will just be speculations only,” FIH President Tayyab Ikram instructed ANI.

Coming to the present event, the Indian males’s hockey crew is dealing with Pakistan in its final group match of the Asian Champions Trophy Hockey 2023 on the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai. The conflict between India and Pakistan hockey groups fixtures have produced some pulsating contests over time.

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