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Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) were forced to cancel a training camp at Rawalpindi due to inability to pay the coaches and players their daily allowance. In light of this, its Indian counterpart, Hockey India (HI) has offered financial assistance to them.
The camp was to be held to help the Pakistani players prepare for the qualification tournament in the Netherlands in June for the 2016 Rio Olympics. It has now been suspended till April 10 due to lack of funds.
Hockey India General Secretary Mushtaque Ahmad wrote a letter offering help to PHF.
“I have gone through press news coverage. In case you are unable to raise resources for the training of the team for the World League Round 3 to be played in Belgium, which is also an Olympic Qualification tournament for the Pakistan team, we are still willing to approach Government of India or our sponsors and well wishers to bail out the PHF and our neighbour out of this difficult situation, so that we have a healthy competition amongst us in Rio 2016.”
- Mushtaque Ahmad wrote in the letter
India and Pakistan have had a frosty relationship lately with the Pakistani players apologizing to the Indian fans after showing obscene gestures after their Champions Trophy semi-final win in Bhubaneshwar last year. In the aftermath of the controversy, India had suspended bilateral hockey series with its neighbour.
However, Hockey India’s effort of extending a helping hand to bail Pakistan out is sure to ease some of the tension between the arch-rivals.
Mushtaque Ahmad said that an Olympic hockey tournament without India and Pakistan is unimaginable.
“We cannot imagine the Olympics being played and the Indian and Pakistani teams not being a part of the hockey discipline. Even though the issue during the FIH Champions Trophy 2014 is yet to be resolved, we are willing to bail you out. We await your feedback,” he concluded.
