The Secretary General of Hockey India Bhola Nath Singh talked about how the Indian team should also go to their neighbouring country after Pakistan travelled to Chennai for the Asian Champions Trophy 2023. Pakistan, along with China and Spain will host the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers scheduled from January 13 to 21 2024. Singh was discussing after the Men in Blue registered a 4-0 win over the arch-rivals Pakistan.
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If the Indian hockey team fails to win gold at the forthcoming Asian Games, they will have to travel to the neighbours to qualify for the Olympics 2024. Pakistan will host an international event after 19 years, and during the event, eight teams will compete against each other in Lahore. In the women's category, Changzhou, China along with Valencia, Spain will host one tournament each. On the other hand, Lahore (Pakistan) and Valencia (Spain) will host one men’s tournament each.
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Nath said that the Indian Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said that since the event in Pakistan is the Olympic Qualifier, the Indian team won’t be stopped from visiting the country. He said, "Indian government's Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said very clearly that the Indian team will not be stopped from 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.”
The Secretary-General added, “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.”
