Pakistan have pulled out of the 2026 Asian Hockey Champions Trophy in India after the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) requested a neutral venue for its matches due to rising tensions between the two countries. Bangladesh have replaced Pakistan in the six-team tournament, which will take place in Jalandhar and Mohali from Oct 27 to Nov 5.&nbsp;The PHF had approached the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), asking it to move Pakistan’s matches away from India, however, India rejected the request and decided to host the tournament according to the original schedule. The PHF, meanwhile, maintained that the safety and dignity of its players remain its top priority.&nbsp;Apart from hosts India, the tournament will feature Malaysia, China, Japan, South Korea and Bangladesh.&nbsp;Earlier reports suggested that Pakistan’s participation depended on government approval for the national team to travel to India. The PHF had also stated that its team was ready to play against any side affiliated with the International Hockey Federation (FIH), including India, at a neutral venue.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-function-as-a-start-up-india-s-student-led-orion-racing-shines-at-international-formula-student-events-1791535113813">'We function as a start-up': India's student-led Orion Racing shines at international Formula Student events</a>&nbsp;This is not the first time Pakistan have stayed away from a hockey tournament hosted by India. The country also skipped the Asia Cup, while its junior team withdrew from the 2025 Junior World Cup, with both events held in India.&nbsp;Jalandhar’s Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium will host all league-stage matches, while the knockout games will take place at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali. The schedule lists the semi-finals for Oct 4 and the final for Oct 5.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aus-vs-sa-that-s-fine-says-cummins-on-khawaja-s-book-contents-about-sandpapergate-1791521007173">AUS vs SA: 'That's fine,' says Cummins on Khawaja's book and Sandpapergate</a>&nbsp;India have been the most successful team in the Asian Champions Trophy since the competition began in 2011, winning the title four times. They also shared the trophy with Pakistan in 2018 after rain forced the final in Muscat, Oman, to be abandoned.

Bangladesh will replace Pakistan in the six-team Asian Hockey Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Jalandhar and Mohali from Oct 27 to Nov 5.

Pakistan have pulled out of the 2026 Asian Hockey Champions Trophy in India after the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) requested a neutral venue for its matches due to rising tensions between the two countries. Bangladesh have replaced Pakistan in the six-team tournament, which will take place in Jalandhar and Mohali from Oct 27 to Nov 5. The PHF had approached the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), asking it to move Pakistan’s matches away from India, however, India rejected the request and decided to host the tournament according to the original schedule. The PHF, meanwhile, maintained that the safety and dignity of its players remain its top priority. Apart from hosts India, the tournament will feature Malaysia, China, Japan, South Korea and Bangladesh. Earlier reports suggested that Pakistan’s participation depended on government approval for the national team to travel to India. The PHF had also stated that its team was ready to play against any side affiliated with the International Hockey Federation (FIH), including India, at a neutral venue. Also Read - 'We function as a start-up': India's student-led Orion Racing shines at international Formula Student events This is not the first time Pakistan have stayed away from a hockey tournament hosted by India. The country also skipped the Asia Cup, while its junior team withdrew from the 2025 Junior World Cup, with both events held in India. Jalandhar’s Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium will host all league-stage matches, while the knockout games will take place at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali. The schedule lists the semi-finals for Oct 4 and the final for Oct 5. Also Read - AUS vs SA: 'That's fine,' says Cummins on Khawaja's book and Sandpapergate India have been the most successful team in the Asian Champions Trophy since the competition began in 2011, winning the title four times. They also shared the trophy with Pakistan in 2018 after rain forced the final in Muscat, Oman, to be abandoned.

Bangladesh will replace Pakistan in the six-team Asian Hockey Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Jalandhar and Mohali from Oct 27 to Nov 5.

Bangladesh named as Pakistan’s replacement for Asian Hockey Champions Trophy

Indian defender Harmanpreet Singh has been honoured with the 2018 Player of the Year award by the Asian Hockey Federation while women's team striker Lalremsiami bagged the Rising Player of The Year prize.&nbsp;

Harmanpreet contributed to the team's silver medal win at the FIH Champions Trophy in Breda and was also part of the team which won the Asian Champions Trophy last year.&nbsp;

The 18-year-old Lalremsiami, on the other hand, has shown remarkable progress in the women's team with her impressive performance as a striker at the 2018 World Cup, the Asian Games where the team won a historic silver.&nbsp;

She was also a part of the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires where the under-18 team won a silver.&nbsp;

The Indian men's team was awarded the Best Performance of The Year for being the only Asian side to have reached the top eight at the World Cup in Bhubaneswar.&nbsp;

The team also came up with a historic silver medal feat at the FIH Champions Trophy in Breda, repeating its success from the 2016 edition.

Indian defender Harmanpreet Singh has been honoured with the 2018 Player of the Year award by the Asian Hockey Federation while women's team striker Lalremsiami bagged the Rising Player of The Year prize.

Indian defender Harmanpreet Singh has been honoured with the 2018 Player of the Year award by the Asian Hockey Federation while women's team striker Lalremsiami bagged the Rising Player of The Year prize. Harmanpreet contributed to the team's silver medal win at the FIH Champions Trophy in Breda and was also part of the team which won the Asian Champions Trophy last year. The 18-year-old Lalremsiami, on the other hand, has shown remarkable progress in the women's team with her impressive performance as a striker at the 2018 World Cup, the Asian Games where the team won a historic silver. She was also a part of the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires where the under-18 team won a silver. The Indian men's team was awarded the Best Performance of The Year for being the only Asian side to have reached the top eight at the World Cup in Bhubaneswar. The team also came up with a historic silver medal feat at the FIH Champions Trophy in Breda, repeating its success from the 2016 edition.

Drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh named 2018 Player of the Year by Asian hockey body

Indian skipper Manpreet Singh has been honoured with the 2018 Player of the Year award by the Asian Hockey Federation while women's team striker Lalremsiami bagged the Rising Player of The Year prize.&nbsp;

Manpreet led the Indian team to an unbeaten streak at the Asian Champions Trophy in Muscat where the team was declared joint winners with Pakistan.&nbsp;

He also contributed to the team's silver medal win at the FIH Champions Trophy in Breda and continues to remain instrumental in the Indian midfield.&nbsp;

The 18-year-old Lalremsiami, on the other hand, has shown remarkable progress in the women's team with her impressive performance as a striker at the 2018 World Cup, the Asian Games where the team won a historic silver.&nbsp;

She was also a part of the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires where the under-18 team won a silver.&nbsp;

The Indian men's team was awarded the Best Performance of The Year for being the only Asian side to have reached the top eight at the World Cup in Bhubaneswar.&nbsp;

The team also came up with a historic silver medal feat at the FIH Champions Trophy in Breda, repeating its success from the 2016 edition.&nbsp;

Indian skipper Manpreet Singh has been honoured with the 2018 Player of the Year award by the Asian Hockey Federation while women's team striker Lalremsiami bagged the Rising Player of The Year prize.

Indian skipper Manpreet Singh has been honoured with the 2018 Player of the Year award by the Asian Hockey Federation while women's team striker Lalremsiami bagged the Rising Player of The Year prize. Manpreet led the Indian team to an unbeaten streak at the Asian Champions Trophy in Muscat where the team was declared joint winners with Pakistan. He also contributed to the team's silver medal win at the FIH Champions Trophy in Breda and continues to remain instrumental in the Indian midfield. The 18-year-old Lalremsiami, on the other hand, has shown remarkable progress in the women's team with her impressive performance as a striker at the 2018 World Cup, the Asian Games where the team won a historic silver. She was also a part of the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires where the under-18 team won a silver. The Indian men's team was awarded the Best Performance of The Year for being the only Asian side to have reached the top eight at the World Cup in Bhubaneswar. The team also came up with a historic silver medal feat at the FIH Champions Trophy in Breda, repeating its success from the 2016 edition.

Manpreet Singh named 2018 Player of the Year by Asian hockey body

A Malaysian state announced it had a new sultan Saturday, who is expected to be elected king after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/malaysias-royal-council-meets-after-kings-surprise-resignation-188763">the former monarch abdicated</a> following his reported marriage to a Russian former beauty queen.

Tengku Abdullah Shah has replaced his father, Sultan Ahmad Shah as the ruler of Pahang state, the official Bernama news agency said, citing a senior palace official.

Local reports said the move was designed to pave the way for Sultan Abdullah to be chosen as the next king of Malaysia by the Council of Rulers, who will choose <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/malaysias-king-steps-down-palace-statement-188554">a new king</a> on January 24. &nbsp;

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with a unique arrangement where the national throne changes hands every five years between rulers of the country's nine states. Pahang state is due to provide the next ruler.

The country was thrown into shock Sunday when reigning king Sultan Muhammad V abdicated unexpectedly after just two years of rule, following reports that he married an ex-beauty queen in Russia in November during a purported two-month medical leave.

The abdication was the first for the country since its independence from British rule in 1957.

Royal officials have not commented on the reported wedding or said what condition prompted the former king to take the leave.

Sultan Abdullah Shah, 59, is a popular figure in the sports scene and is currently president of the Asian Hockey Federation and a council member of football's world governing body, FIFA.

While their role is ceremonial, Malaysia's royalty commands great respect, especially from Malaysia's predominantly Muslim Malays, and criticising them is regarded as offensive.

Portraits of the king and queen adorn government buildings throughout the country. The king is also the symbolic head of Islam in the nation, as well as the nominal chief of the military.

Malaysia's sultans trace a lineage back to the Malay sultanates of the 15th century. The king is referred to as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or "He Who Is Made Lord".

Local reports said the move was designed to pave the way for Sultan Abdullah to be chosen as the next king of Malaysia by the Council of Rulers, who will choose a new king on January 24.

A Malaysian state announced it had a new sultan Saturday, who is expected to be elected king after the former monarch abdicated following his reported marriage to a Russian former beauty queen. Tengku Abdullah Shah has replaced his father, Sultan Ahmad Shah as the ruler of Pahang state, the official Bernama news agency said, citing a senior palace official. Local reports said the move was designed to pave the way for Sultan Abdullah to be chosen as the next king of Malaysia by the Council of Rulers, who will choose a new king on January 24. Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with a unique arrangement where the national throne changes hands every five years between rulers of the country's nine states. Pahang state is due to provide the next ruler. The country was thrown into shock Sunday when reigning king Sultan Muhammad V abdicated unexpectedly after just two years of rule, following reports that he married an ex-beauty queen in Russia in November during a purported two-month medical leave. The abdication was the first for the country since its independence from British rule in 1957. Royal officials have not commented on the reported wedding or said what condition prompted the former king to take the leave. Sultan Abdullah Shah, 59, is a popular figure in the sports scene and is currently president of the Asian Hockey Federation and a council member of football's world governing body, FIFA. While their role is ceremonial, Malaysia's royalty commands great respect, especially from Malaysia's predominantly Muslim Malays, and criticising them is regarded as offensive. Portraits of the king and queen adorn government buildings throughout the country. The king is also the symbolic head of Islam in the nation, as well as the nominal chief of the military. Malaysia's sultans trace a lineage back to the Malay sultanates of the 15th century. The king is referred to as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or "He Who Is Made Lord".

Malaysian state chooses new sultan, expected to be elected king