Pakistan is about to host a global hockey occasion after practically 19 years with the Worldwide Hockey Federation (FIH) allocating the Olympic qualifying rounds to the nation for early subsequent 12 months.
Pakistan, which final hosted an FIH occasion again in 2004, will host eight groups in Lahore from January 13 to 24 subsequent 12 months.
“Pakistani hockey followers have been disadvantaged of seeing worldwide hockey stars at residence for 20 years now and the FIH Olympic qualifiers will little doubt enhance the game in Pakistan once more,” stated Haider Hussain, the Secretary-Basic of the FIH.
He stated the Pakistan Hockey Federation had succeeded in convincing the FIH to allocate the occasion to Pakistan after a lot lobbying within the apex physique.
“We’re blissful many nations supported our stance that if worldwide hockey returns to Pakistan it can assist enhance the sport once more within the nation.” Sadly, Pakistan has did not qualify for the final two Olympic Video games in 2016 and 2021 however Hussain stated he was hopeful that followers would end up in huge numbers to observe the matches in Lahore. In line with the given format, the highest 5 Asian groups, seven from Europe, two from Pan America, and one every from Africa and Oceania can compete within the qualifying rounds.
The highest three groups in every Olympic qualification match will qualify for Paris 2024.
Curently ranked 16 on this planet, Pakistan can be eligible to compete within the qualifying spherical of the Paris Olympics even when they fail to win the Asian Video games the place they are going to face the likes of India, Korea, Malaysia, Japan and China.