Pakistan hockey team refuses to compete in Asian Games
The announcement comes amid a financial crisis that has gripped the Pakistan Hockey Federation.
KARACHI (Dunya News) – National hockey players have refused to participate in the upcoming Asian Games, saying inadequate funding by the government has affected the sports body as well as the players.
The announcement comes ahead of the Asian Games and amid a financial crisis that has gripped the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), which says the government has allegedly stopped funding the sports body.
PHF has on numerous occasions appealed to the government to release funds, the most recent of which came last week when the federation asked the government for a grant of Rs200 million.
Team manager and Olympian Hasan Sardar said lack of funding had lowered the morale of the players who were confident after faring well against Argentina, Belgium, Australia and the Netherlands.
The Asian Games are scheduled to be held in Indonesia from August 18 to September 2 with a World Cup due to take place in Indian in December.
