India Denies Visas to Pakistan Hockey Team for Asia Cup
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
The escalation of animosity between Pakistan and India continues to disrupt sporting events as well, with reports suggesting that the Pakistan hockey team will be denied visas to participate in the Men’s Asia Cup 2025. Scheduled to be held in Rajgir, India, in August and September this year, the tournament is a critical pathway for qualification to the 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Pakistan’s visa rejection comes after heightened diplomatic tensions between the two countries. The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) is yet to comment on the situation, but the decision from Indian authorities stands firm for now. It is not yet clear if the tournament will go ahead as planned or be moved out of India if Pakistan lodges an official complaint.
This development leaves Pakistan’s participation in the tournament in limbo. The three-time Asia Cup champions have been part of the Men’s Hockey Asia Cup 11 times (12 this year) , tied for the most appearances. The news also comes as a blow for the players, who already have limited opportunities on the international stage.
The AHF, meanwhile, faces mounting pressure to address the situation. The federation has long emphasized that all participating teams should be provided safe and equal access, regardless of political issues. Now, organizers must decide whether to adjust the tournament structure or proceed without one of Asia’s historic giants.
This is not the first time politics have disrupted the subcontinent’s hockey narrative, but for a tournament billed as a celebration of Asia’s finest talent, Pakistan’s forced absence is a glaring void.
With the Asia Cup approaching fast, both the hockey community and neutral fans will be left wondering what could have been had sport been allowed to rise above politics.
Reference Link:- https://propakistani.pk/2025/04/26/india-denies-visas-to-pakistan-hockey-team-for-asia-cup/
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
