The champions have not yet received clearance for their visas from the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, PHF president and chief organiser Muhammad Shafiq informed The Express Tribune. “We are trying to get the visas as soon as possible and if the Indian players get their visas, their matches will be rescheduled,” said Shafiq.
He added that if India, the defending champions in both the boys’ and the girls’ events, do not arrive, it will be a setback for the organisers and the country. “It is after a long time that we are hosting the event,” he said. “A special floor has been brought from the US and a pavilion has been constructed at the venue in the Agriculture University in Faisalabad.”
The event was originally scheduled to start on October 17 but was postponed on the request of India and was rescheduled for December 3. This is the first time that the PHF is organising such a big international event.
Besides India and Pakistan; Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Yemen are also competing in the event. The boys’ event is U21 while the girls’ one is U20, and will serve as the qualifying rounds for the continental challenge trophy.
This is the third challenge trophy in which India will defend their title in both the men’s and the women’s categories. Pakistan won silver medals in the last two IHF challenge trophies in the men’s category.
Meanwhile, on the opening day in the women’s event, Nepal defeated Afghanistan 33-3 and Bangladesh overcame Yemen 47-13.
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Come on Pakistan - try to beat India fair and square. Not by resorting to such tactics.