FIH awards 2010 hockey World Cup to India

HYDERABAD, July 18: The International Hockey Federation, the game's world governing body, formally awarded the hosting rights of 2010 men's World Cup to India. FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman, who met Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi who is also the chairman of the ad-hoc committee which is running the game in the country, said the dates of the tournament would be declared later. "FIH 2010 men's world cup has been confirmed and the venue for it is New Delhi, which will also host the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Dates for the men's world cup will be announced later," she told reporters here. The mega-event will be a joint venture between the FIH and the IOA, Vriesman said. "Holding of the event will be a joint venture between FIH and IOA and the profits will be reinvested for promotion of India Hockey," she added. The FIH, over a year ago, had proposed to stage the event in India, subject to various factors related to the game and infrastructure and after being satisfied with all that they announced that India would be the hosts. Vriesman also said that FIH has decided in principle to award the Men's Champions Trophy in 2011 or 2012 to India, subject to sponsorship and other arrangements, besides promising a Women's tournament in the country in the next few years. Kalmadi disclosed that National Stadium would be the venue for the World Cup. "The National Hockey Stadium in New Delhi will be the venue of the mega event. The stadium will also be the venue of hockey competition of Commonwealth Games in 2010," he said. Thanks: ITS