India to skip Sultan of Johor Cup hockey due to Pak presence

April 14, 2017 18:48

The Indian men's hockey team will not take part in the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia for the second year in a row, citing the presence of Pakistan in the event to be held in October.

Hockey India said since Sultan of Johor Cup is an invitational tournament it would continue its stand of not taking part in any series against Pakistan until it tenders an unconditional apology for the 2014 Champions Trophy

controversy.

Sultan of Johor Cup is an Under-21 tournament and India won the title in 2015. It is not a global event held under the aegis of world governing body FIH or any continental body.

In January, HI announced its decision not to play any tournament against Pakistan until they submit an unconditional written apology for lewd and unprofessional behaviour of the Pakistan team during the FIH Champions Trophy in India in 2014.

The matter did not end there. Ahead of the 2016 Junior World Cup in Lucknow, Pakistan Hockey Federation alleged that India did not want Pakistan to take part in the tournament. India had outrightly rejected the claim.

Eventually, Pakistan did not take part in the Junior World Cup.

"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.

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