Representational image (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: A top official from Hockey India has stated that the federation will adhere to the government’s guidelines regarding Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming Asia Cup hockey tournament, which India is hosting later this year. This statement comes in the wake of recent military tensions between the two neighbouring countries following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Bholanath Singh, the secretary general of Hockey India, clarified the federation’s position, saying, “Whatever the government decides, we will abide by it. Till now, we didn’t have talks with the government on this.” He emphasised that the country’s interests take precedence for the federation, stating, “The country comes first for us. Asia Cup is happening in India, and whatever the government advises us, we will abide by that.”The Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 27 to September 7, serves as a qualifying tournament for the 2024 men’s FIH World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium. Recently, a senior official from the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) revealed that they have requested the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) to guarantee visas for their contingent to participate in the Asia Cup.

Bholanath Singh, who also holds the position of AHF vice-president, reiterated his commitment to prioritising the country’s honor, stating, “I am AHF (Asian Hockey Federation) vice-president, I am secretary general of Hockey India, but first I am a citizen of India. Whatever the country and the government decides, Hockey India will follow that. Posts are different, but country’s honour comes first.”