By Emily Goddard

Pakistan's men's hockey team may not be able to defend their Asian Games title due to an internal dispute ©Getty ImagesDecember 2 - The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is calling on the nation's Government to step in to ensure that the men's team can defend their Asian Games title at next year's event as two rival bodies continue to claim they represent the Olympic Movement in the country, putting their participation in jeopardy.

The row already means that Pakistan's hockey players will be absent at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games after the nation failed to enter the event by the deadline given, and PHF secretary Rana Mujahid is keen to prevent the same from happening at the continental competition, set to take place in Incheon, South Korea.

He is now appealing to the Government to quell the internal dispute, with the deadline to submit an entry for the Asian Games fast approaching.

"The Government provides PHF with NOC [National Olympic Committee] funds etc, hence we have to follow their directives," Mujahid said.

"The PHF does not favour a particular faction of POA (Pakistan Olympic Association), however wants to see the resolution of this confrontation."

Only the POA led by Syed Arif Hassan is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and, therefore, is the only body able to send Pakistan athletes to international events.

But a second POA, led by Muhammad Akram Sahi, claims to be country's legitimate Olympic Committee.

"We have apprised the Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister, Riaz Hussain Pirzada, of the situation who has assured the PHF of playing his part in resolving the standoff," Mujahid said.

The Asian Games will take place from September 19 to October 4, 2014, and is expected to attract 13,000 athletes and officials from 45 nations to compete in 36 sports.

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