No World Cup without Hockey India: Negre

Age Correspondent

New Delhi

April 9: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Thursday adopted a tough stance saying it would not permit the 2010 World Cup to be staged in Delhi unless a unified national body was put in place.

The Indian Olympic Association dissolved the Indian Hockey Federation in May last year, and has been running the show despite calls for fresh IHF elections.

FIH president Leandro Negre, in the city last three days to inspect the preparations for the showpiece event, was blunt, “Hockey India, which will be a merger of the men’s and the women’s body, is a necessity.

“The world body will not permit the World Cup in Delhi unless that takes place,” he said here on Thursday.

“We want to have the best World Cup in New Delhi, and that is not possible without a proper governing body. The FIH is a responsible body and does a lot of pre-planning. We have a plan B in place if India fails to meet the guidelines,” he said in a clear message to the Suresh Kalmadi-led ad-hoc committee.

Negre said that the event would be shifted to Malaysia if India failed to comply.

“Malaysia is very much prepared to hold the event.

“But I am sure that it will not come to such a point. We are keen to hold the event in Delhi as it is a potential market for hockey.”

The 62-year old Spaniard though added that the FIH would not interfere with the day-to-day working of the ad-hoc committee as “it was an internal matter”.

“We are ready to help, but the internal bickerings will have to be resolved by the people here.

“The sooner the better,” said Negre, a member of Spain’s national team at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games.

IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh said election to the IHF would be held in another six months, along with the construction work of the National Stadium.

“The IOA will conduct the elections within next six months, and everything will be settled. Delhi will see an extra-ordinary World Cup, followed by the Commonwealth Games,” he averred.

The ad-hoc body also said that the procedure to appoint Spanish coach Jose Brasa was in its final stages.

“We have sent a new contract to Brasa and his appointment will be cleared within a month,” said ad-hoc committee convenor Aslam Khan.

The FIH chief will visit India again in May to review the preparations.