New Delhi: The International Hockey
Federation (FIH) on Monday said the clash of dates with the
money-spinning Indian Premier League was not the sole reason
for preponing next year's Hockey World Cup in India.
The World Cup was originally scheduled in the capital
from March 7 to 20 but the FIH advanced it by a week to avoid
a clash with the third season of the hugely successful IPL
slated for March 12-April 25.
Olympians Dhanraj Pillay and V Bhaskaran had flayed the
FIH decision, saying the administrators had let down the game
and submitted to cricket.
"The reason the FIH advanced the Hero Honda FIH World Cup
2010 was not only for the IPL, but also for other sporting
events worldwide. The World Cup is a tournament that will have
a lot of interest from many countries, not only India. After
analysing the situation, the dates 28 February-13 March 2010
turned out to be the best options," an FIH spokesperson told
reporters.
On being asked what were the other reasons for preponing
the event, the FIH spokesperson replied, " World Cup will be
shown on television in many countries worldwide, not only in
India and the other 11 participating teams. In analysing the
entire sporting calendar, we decided it was better for the
promotion of the event and hockey in general to advance the
World Cup by one week."
Hockey India President A K Mattoo had clearly said
that they were even considering rescheduling the final of the
elite event scheduled for March 13, since it clashed with an
IPL double header.
Pillay, one of India's most successful forwards, was
livid over the development.
"If they are now thinking of shifting the World Cup final
then I would say they are not committed and have submitted to
cricket," the former skipper had said.
Former India coach Bhaskaran was equally annoyed and said
things like this happen only in India.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, August 17, 2009, 23:58