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Pakistan plans to host an international ice hockey event after almost 19 years, when the International Ice Hockey Federation (FIH) awards the country Olympic qualifiers early next year.
Pakistan, who last hosted the FIH event in 2004, will host eight teams in Lahore from 13-24. January next year.
“Hockey fans in Pakistan have been denied international hockey stars at home for 20 years and the FIH Olympic Qualifiers will undoubtedly boost the sport in Pakistan,” said FIH Secretary General Haider Hussain.
He said the Pakistan Hockey Federation has managed to convince the FIH to award the event to Pakistan after lobbying at the top.
“We are happy that many countries supported our position that if international hockey returns to Pakistan, it will help re-energize the game in the country.” Unfortunately, Pakistan has failed to qualify for the last two Olympics in 2016 and 2021, but Hussain said he was hopeful that fans would turn out in large numbers to watch the matches in Lahore. According to the given format, the top five teams from Asia, seven from Europe, two from Pan America and one from Africa and Oceania can compete in the qualifying rounds.
The top three teams from each Olympic qualifying tournament will qualify for Paris 2024.
Currently ranked 16th in the world, Pakistan is eligible to compete in the qualifying round of the Paris Olympics even if it fails to win the Asian Games, where it will face India, Korea, Malaysia, Japan and China.
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