NEW DELHI: The junior hockey team of Pakistan arrived in India on Saturday to participate in the Junior Hockey World Cup being held in Bhubaneswar from November 24 to December 5, the Pakistan high commission said.
According to an official statement, Pakistan High Commission Charge d’ Affaires in New Delhi, Aftab Hasan Khan extended a warm welcome to Pakistan’s junior hockey team.
Mr. Aftab Hasan Khan, Charge d’ Affaires, High Commission for Pakistan extended warm welcome to Pakistan Men’s Junior Hockey Team visiting India for Junior Hockey World Cup. The event is being held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha from 24 November to 5 December, 2021. pic.twitter.com/Nkn3N9fQNp
— Pakistan High Commission India (@PakinIndia) November 20, 2021
The statement said a senior diplomat of the High Commission received the members of the team upon their arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. The visit of the Pakistani hockey team comes days after New Delhi decided to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib corridor.
The envoy also hosted a lunch in honour of the team at Chancery. Speaking on the occasion, Aftab extended his best wishes to the Pakistan team for their success during the tournament. Stating that hockey is the national sport of Pakistan, he hoped that the players will perform with “great spirit and the best of their abilities”.
Head coach, members of the team management and the players appreciated Pakistan High Commission’s hospitality during transit in New Delhi on their way to Bhubaneswar. They are fully prepared and in high spirits to give their best during the matches, the statement added.
The ties between the two countries significantly nosedived after India announced in August 2019 its decision to withdraw the special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate the state into two union territories.
