India to host the Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy 2011: FIH decision
The President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), Leandro Negre stated that New Delhi will host the Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy (CT) 2011 from December 1 to 11.
The Hockey Champions Trophy 2011 will be an eight-team event. The teams to participate in this event are Germany (2008 Olympic Champions), Spain (fifth in World Cup 2010), Australia (World Cup 2010 Champions), India (host), South Korea and Pakistan (Wild
Card entries). Teams like India’s all time rival Pakistan and Asia’s hockey giant South Korea will make the event far more exciting.
This is the third time that India is going to host the Men’s Hockey CT. The last two were held in Chennai in 1996 and 2005. This hosting right from the FIH became possible as a result of the successful hosting of the Hero Honda Hockey World Cup held in March
last year in New Delhi. The FIH was very impressed and yet awarded another chance of hosting to India for the CT 2011.
The FIH announced that the CT 2011 will be followed by the Men’s and Women’s Olympic Qualifiers.
Mr. Negre was in Delhi this week for a meeting with India’s newly appointed Sports Minister, Ajay Maken. This meeting was called to discuss the various issues with the development of hockey in India. They had discussions regarding the CT 2011 and announced
the dates of the event. They also talked about issue regarding Hockey India (HI) being the sole governing body for Indian Hockey after the court decisions and support of the FIH.
Mr. Negre discussed about the professional league to be carried out under the joint banner of FIH and the HI. This league was named as “FIH-HI Professional Hockey League” and is planned to be launched soon. Any additional announcement will be made subsequent
to the FIH’s Executive Board Meeting, which is to be held in March, early this year.
FIH stated that the meeting went very well and was productive.
Recently, the FIH handed over six of their most important events to India. It has further plans to allocate their other International level events, for 2011 and tournaments from 2012 onwards, in the next coming months. All of these efforts are being done
to encourage the sport in the country.
It is worth noticing that India was the team who failed to qualify for the last CT 2010, held in Monchengladbach, Germany. And luckily, will have a direct entry this year in the CT 2011, as host.
As far as the Women’s Champions Trophy is concerned, it will be hosted by Netherland this year. Netherland has got this hosting opportunity for the sixth time in their hockey history.
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