The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Tuesday withdrew the hosting rights of Olympic Qualifier tournament from Pakistan and has announced to announce a new host for one of the three Paris 2024 Olympic Qualifiers soon.
The qualifiers was scheduled to be held in Pakistan in January 2024.
The FIH withdrew the men’s Olympic qualifier from Pakistan due to issues related to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).
“FIH can confirm that it has informed the Pakistan Hockey Federation of its decision to withdraw the hosting of the Men’s FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier tournament – scheduled in January 2024 – from Pakistan. This is primarily due to the recent developments in the governance situation of the Federation,” the FIH said in a statement.
“A new host for this tournament will be announced shortly. The other qualifiers will be staged in China and Spain as announced in July,” the global hockey governing body added.
Notably, Pakistan was scheduled to host the qualifiers along with China and Spain and it could have been the first major international hockey event in the country since the 2004 Champions Trophy.
Notably, top three teams in each of the three FIH Hockey Olympic Qualification Tournaments will qualify for the Paris Olympics.
These teams will join hosts France as well as the winners of each Continental Championship (African Hockey Road to Paris, Pan American Games, Asian Games, EuroHockey Championship and Oceania Cup).
Ranked 15 globally, Pakistan need to secure victory in the upcoming Asian Games or await confirmation of their participation in qualifying matches held elsewhere.