Pakistan Confirms Participation in FIH Nations Hockey Cup in Poland
Pakistan Hockey Team will take part in the Nations Cup and Azlan Shah Hockey tournament this year.
Pakistan has officially confirmed its participation in the FIH Nations Hockey Cup, slated to begin on May 31 in the Polish city of Gniezno.
An official from the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) informed that the confirmation letter had been dispatched to the event organizers.
"Participation in valued international events is our foremost priority. Under the directives of PHF President Tariq Masoori Bugti, we have decided to compete in the Nations Cup as well as the 30th Azlan Shah Hockey Cup beginning on May 4 in Malaysia. Additionally, we have conveyed our confirmation to participate in the Nations Cup in Poland from May 31," the PHF official stated.
Gniezno, Poland, will play host to the men's event, featuring some of the world's best teams, including Poland, Korea, Malaysia, France, South Africa, Pakistan, Canada, Austria, and New Zealand – the latter being relegated from the 2022-23 FIH Hockey Pro League season.
As per the FIH World Rankings, since the Polish team did not qualify for the FIH Nations Cup, the tournament will exceptionally feature nine teams. The competition is scheduled to run from May 31 to June 9, 2024.
Gniezno has previously hosted international tournaments, such as the Hockey Series Open in 2018 and the EuroHockey Championship II in 2021.
The FIH Nations Cup, introduced in 2021, aims to provide top-level competition to the best-ranked teams not participating in the FIH Hockey Pro League, offering the winning team the opportunity for promotion to the FIH Hockey Pro League in the subsequent season.
The event holds significant importance for Pakistan hockey, with the winning team earning a spot in the FIH Pro League. "This tournament is crucial for Pakistan hockey. A victory here would signify our return to the top teams globally. To revive national hockey and reclaim international prominence, it is imperative for Pakistan hockey to excel in the Azlan Shah Cup and subsequently in the Nations Cup," the official emphasized.
