Lausanne (Switzerland), Oct 29 (UNI) Pakistan will not take part in the FIH Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup 2025, scheduled in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed today.
According to the Olympics.com, the Pakistan hockey team, which last lifted the junior world title in 1979, was drawn in Pool B alongside two-time champions India, Chile and Switzerland. Oman have been named as the replacement team.
The decision follows Pakistan’s withdrawal from the tournament despite being qualified for the FIH Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup 2025 through their ranking at the 2024 Junior Asia Cup.
Oman, who were the next best team at last year’s continental showpiece, were invited to fill the vacated spot.
This marks Pakistan’s second withdrawal from a major hockey competition this year. Earlier they pulled out of the Hockey Asia Cup in Bihar, citing security concerns, with Bangladesh stepping in as their replacement.
The 14th edition of the men’s junior tournament will see an expanded 24 hockey teams competing for the coveted title for the first time in the under-21 event, the website noted.
The FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup was initially a 12-team tournament, which increased to 16 in the 2001 edition. The 2023 edition of the FIH Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup in Malaysia also featured 16 teams.
This will also be the third time India hosts the FIH Junior Men’s World Cup, following the 2016 edition in Lucknow and the 2021 edition in Bhubaneswar. While Chennai previously hosted the Asian Champions Trophy in 2023, Madurai will welcome an international event of this scale for the first time.
Germany is the most successful team in the Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup for men with seven titles. They are also the defending champions, having beaten France in the 2023 final played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Meanwhile, hockey fans can still look forward to a renewal of the India-Pakistan rivalry next year, with the senior men’s teams set to clash twice in the FIH Pro League in June at a neutral venue in England.
