Pakistan qualified for Junior World Cup 2025: Lodhi

KARACHI: Pakistan have qualified for the Junior Hockey World Cup 2025, having reached the semifinals of Asia Cup, said Ajmal Khan Lodhi, the manager of Pakistan juniors. The top six teams in the Junior Asia Cup qualify for the World Cup.

On Monday, while talking to The News, Lodhi said that now Green shirts will play against Japan in the semifinal of Junior Asia Cup 2024. He said Japan is a strong team and has played well in the Junior Asia Cup. Although they lost against India in the pool match they are a formidable side in the event, he added.

"We have seen videos of the matches of Japanese hockey team in Junior Asia Cup 2024 and know about their game planning, strategy and their strengths," he said. Lodhi said that Greenshirts are confident and ready to face any team and their morale is high for the semifinal.

On the over all performance pf Pakistan, Lodhi said they played outstandingly. "The match results and difference of the goals in all our wins show that our team played with good planning and strategy," he said. "Our field goals ratio and penalty corner ratio both are satisfactory. Sufyan Khan who is the PC specialist and drag flicker is the top scorer of Junior Asia Cup so far with 9 goals. Our forwards played attacking game. As a result, either they scored field goals or got PCs. Rana Waleed is leading in field goals with 4 goals, while other forwards have also been successful," he said.

"We gave chance to each and every player of the 18-member squad in the ongoing Junior Asia Cup so that they get experience of international hockey matches. These boys will play in the Junior Hockey World Cup 2025. Thus, we have to give maximum exposure to our players," Lodhi said.