Stadium apprehensions led to cancellation of hockey event

New Delhi: Confusion reigns supreme as to what led to the cancellation of the four-nation tournament in the capital but it now appears that the International Hockey Federation denied a go-ahead for the event because it had

apprehensions about the preparedness of the National Stadium. In his e-mail to Hockey India officials in which he explained why the world body did not give permission for the event, FIH Umpires Development Manager Richard Wilson said they had concerns about the venue. "At the moment we are reluctant to grant approval, since it is not clear to us whether there will be a pitch ready to play the tournament on and whether the other associated facilities (such as pitch watering, goals/nets, changing rooms and other infrastructure) will be in place in time," Wilson said. At the same time, FIH was also apprehensive of the availability of top teams for the event. "We also have concerns as to whether the teams you indicate that you will invite to play will be available at this late stage in their preparations for the World Cup," Wilson said. Hockey India president AK Mattoo yesterday did not give any reasons for the cancellation of the tourney which was expected to be a test event before the hockey World Cup and merely said that they were trying to pencil in a bilateral Test series against France. Despite Wilson expressing concerns about the venue, Sports Authority of India was quick to claim that preparedness of the venue was not the real reason behind cancellation of the event. "There was no issues with the stadium. As far as we are concerned, the stadium will be ready by January 13. They require just one turf, floodlighting for the event and it is already there. The turf has already been laid, the change rooms are ready, the ceiling is ready, the VIP lounge is ready. Even Hockey India office is ready in the stadium," Joint Secretary and Special Officer of Commonwealth Games Hardip Singh Kingra told. Wilson was also concerned about the turf, something evident from his December 9 e-mail, and he did not have enough trust in the organisers` ability to meet their deadline. "Regarding the pitch, our latest information is that asphalt layers were due to be put down last weekend, although we have no confirmation yet that this took place," he said. "If all goes to plan, then the pitch could be ready in the first week of January 2010. However, you will be aware that previously advised/promised deadlines have all been delayed so far," Wilson pointed out. In such a situation, the FIH official said, it would be wise if the organisers arrange some local tournament or at best, a bi-lateral series involving some minnows. PTI