New Delhi: The Pakistan Junior Hockey Team arrived here on Saturday to participate in the Junior Hockey World Cup to be played at Bhubaneswar from November 24 to December 5. The Pakistan High Commission Charge d’ Affaires Aftab Hasan Khan extended a warm welcome to the team and hosted a lunch in their honor at Hotel Chancery.
Speaking on the occasion, Khan wished luck for the team’s success in the world cup and hoped the players will perform with best of their abilities. Earlier, a senior diplomat of the High Commission received the team members at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Head Coach, members of the team management and the players appreciated Pakistan High Commission’s hospitality during transit in Delhi on their way to Bhubaneswar. They are fully prepared and in high spirits to give their best during the matches.
Pakistan kickstarted their campaign against Germany on November 24. Apart from the Pakistan team, the South African team arrived at Bhubaneswar airport.
Already, Germany, Chile, Poland, Canada, Netherlands, France, Argentina and Malaysia’s teams arrived in Bhubaneshwar to participate in the tournament.
As many as 16 teams will vie for the prestigious trophy.
Out of the 12 editions held, this is the third consecutive time that India is hosting the prestigious tournament.
Hosts and defending champions India are grouped in pool B along with Canada, France and Poland. The other teams in the fray include Belgium, Malaysia, South Africa and Chile in pool A, Netherlands, Spain, Korea and United States grouped in pool C, while Germany, Argentina, Pakistan and Egypt in Pool D. Over a period of five days, each team will play a total of three matches at group stage, which will be followed by a series of cross-over matches, due to take place on November 30, followed by knockout matches from December 1 with a final to decide the champions scheduled for 5 December.
