The World Cup venue is far from ready, one of the major reasons for the cancellation of the event. Insiders claim that the pitch will be ready by January 12, but the rest of the work, including the lights and a proper watering system, will take at least another month.

With less than two months to go for the World Cup, Hockey India on Monday scrapped the four-nation test event to be held at the National Stadium here -venue for the showcase event. The move will hamper the Indian team’s preparations, devoiding them of much-required match practice.

Hockey India president A.K. Mattoo on Monday said that failure to get the go-ahead from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) resulted in the cancellation of the tournament, but there is more to it than meets the eye.

The World Cup venue is far from ready, one of the major reasons for the cancellation of the event.

Insiders claim that the pitch will be ready by January 12, but the rest of the work, including the lights and a proper watering system, will take at least another month.

The world body when contacted said the news was not “completely correct”.

“The FIH had not scheduled the event, so it cannot approve or disapprove it,” FIH communications manager Arjen Meijer told this paper from Laussane, Switzerland.

“Of course, we want to test the pitch before the World Cup, and we will do it one way or the other.
The teams can play a couple of matches in February, but we first have to make sure that the stadium is ready, and we are able to play on the main pitch.”

Asked if there was a deadline for the test event, Meijer said, “We don’t have a date in mind, but the stadium should be completely ready. That is our condition. Countries hold events a year before a big event and at times, just a week before.”

Chief coach Jose Brasa said: “It was a pity that the event was cancelled. It is not new for me though.

We met Suresh Kalmadi in Pune and discussed the possibility of holding the four-nation event. But since the pitch wouldn’t be ready till February, we will have to continue the camp in Pune.”

Hockey India, it is learnt, initially thought of shifting the event to either Mumbai or Chandigarh, but decided not to.

The national body has now sent hurried letters to France and China, inviting them for test series in early February.

But with both teams not playing in the World Cup, how will it help the national team’s cause is anybody’s guess.

The Indian team were to train at the National Stadium from January 17, but will only be able to access the main venue in February, mere days ahead of the World Cup.

Mattoo, on the other hand, denied reports that the unavailability of the venue was an issue. “We are taking stock of the preparations and the stadium will be there in place. There is no question of a delay,” Mattoo said.

BADAL MEETS GILL, SEEKS INTERVENTION FOR AFFILIATION

Meanwhile, Hockey Punjab president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday met sports minister M.S. Gill, seeking the latter’s intervention to help the state unit get affiliation with Hockey India.

Badal told the Minister that due to “calculated attempts by vested interests in Hockey India” the sport in the state, which has produced several international players, was getting weaker.

Badal has earlier accused the Indian Olympics Association and its president Suresh Kalmadi of a conspiracy against the state by debarring them from Hockey India’s January 29 elections.