According to reports the Indian hockey team opted out of the Sultan of Johar Cup because of the controversial participation of Pakistan in the tournament.
Hockey India had refused to participate last year as well. Since the Sultan of Johar Cup is an invitational tournament, India has refused to participate until Pakistan apologizes for the 2014 Champions Trophy controversy.
The Pakistan team had behaved in an unruly and offensive manner during the Champions Trophy in 2014. Hockey India wanted an unconditional apology from Pakistan which they did not receive.
“Though Hockey India and its players had let go of the hurtful incident in 2014, it was the recent allegations by PHF (during the Junior World Cup) that has resulted in India pulling out of this tournament.
“By not fielding the Indian team at the Sultan of Johor Cup, we have stood our ground to not take part in any series against Pakistan until they submit an unconditional apology for what happened in 2014,” said Hockey India spokesperson.
“Since the Sultan of Johor Cup is not a mandatory tournament, Hockey India has decided that it will withdraw from the tournament. We had not brought up the bad behaviour on part of Pakistan during the FIH Champions Trophy in 2014 for a very long time.
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“It is actually PHF who bring it up again and levy baseless allegations against Hockey India to hide their own incompetency. It is about time PHF takes responsibility for it’s incapability,” he added.
This has been a contentious decision for the past few years as India controversially did not want India to participate in 2016 Junior World Cup in Lucknow.
Hockey India has refused to relent and rightly so which is why indian hockey team opted out of the sultan of johar cup. Let us see where this goes.
