Johor Bahru, June 21: Days after granting official
recognition to Hockey India, the International Hockey
Federation (FIH) today confirmed India as host country of the
2010 Men's Hockey World Cup in March next year.
FIH said India has sorted out its "internal problems" and
so there was no uncertainty over the prestigious event being
held in New Delhi.
"There will be no changes. New Delhi will host the World
Cup as scheduled and everything is in place for them to do so.
They have sorted out their own internal problems, including
the merger of their women's and men's federations," FIH
president Leandro Negre said here.
"They have also found a title sponsor for the tournament
and I am happy for them. India, hosting the Hockey World Cup
would benefit the country," said Negre on the sidelines of the
Junior World Cup here.
India had been warned in April that it could lose the
World Cup if the men's and women's hockey bodies did not form
a single entity, as stipulated by FIH rules.
A six-month period was given by FIH but before the time
was up, Hockey India was formed earlier this month as an
umbrella organisation for the game in the country and FIH had
given official seal of approval to it.
Negre thanked Malaysia for agreeing to be on standby to
host the prestigious event in case India did not comply to
FIH's ruling.
"We are thankful to Malaysia for agreeing to be the host
if India cannot make it. But now there is no need for that. I
am in touch with the Indian HA and on the question of security
for the tournament they have given us the guarantee that they
will do everything within their means.
"Their security plan for the World Cup will be based on
the similar measures which will be taken for the Commonwealth
Games they are hosting in November next year and I believe
that will be adequate.
"In any case the Indian HA will hold a warm-up tournament
three or four months before the start of the World Cup and I
am told that the teams they want to invite will show up,"
added the Spaniard.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, June 21, 2009, 22:08