The Asian Age

New Delhi

Aug. 7: The men’s hockey World Cup in India next year will begin a week earlier than scheduled, International Hockey Federation (FIH) officials said on Friday, to avoid a clash with the Indian Premier League.

Originally scheduled for March 7 to 21, the 12-nation tournament will now be played in New Delhi from February 28 to March 13.

“The reason the FIH moved the 2010 World Cup one week ahead is to get an even better worldwide promotion of their showcase event,” the world body said in a release.

Said Hockey India president A.K. Mattoo, “The World Cup has been preponed by a week so as to avoid a clash of dates with the IPL.

“If that had happened there were fears that the tournament could witness a drop in crowd turnout.”

The originally schedule overlapped for at least seven days with the third edition of the popular Twenty20 competition. The IPL, featuring the world’s top cricketers, is likely to begin on March 14.

Mattoo, however, said that the change of dates would not affect the home team’s preparations. “We have plenty of cushion before the World Cup begins.

“In fact, we will host a four-nation tournament before the World Cup as a curtain-raiser to the main event,” he added.

The World Cup will see 12 teams in action at the National Stadium in New Delhi.

Canada, Korea, South Africa and hosts India have already qualified, while the other participating countries would be decided after the three qualifying tournaments in November this year.

Eight-time Olympic champions India have won the World Cup just once in 1975 in Kuala Lumpur.