Hockey: Delhi to host Champions Trophy in December

NEW DELHI: The Champions Trophy will be held from December 1-11 and the prestigious tournament will be followed by the men’s and women’s Olympic qualifiers, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) stated in a release.

The dates for the tournament, which will be hosted by India, were decided upon after FIH president Leandro Negre held talks with sports minister Ajay Maken and Hockey India (HI) officials earlier this week.

Negre was in the capital to discuss a number of matters regarding the apex body’s development projects in India.

He discussed with HI officials the launch of a new FIH – Hockey India Professional League, but a final announcement on this will be made following FIH’s executive board meeting in March.

During his meeting with the sports minister, Negre reaffirmed FIH’s position regarding its recognition of Hockey India as the sole governing body for the sport in India, while Maken vowed to support the development of hockey in the country.

“The meeting was very constructive,” the FIH stated. The hosting details of FIH’s four-year programme of events in India — that kicks off with the Champions Trophy — were also discussed.

Following last year’s highly successful World Cup, FIH recently committed six of its major events to India over a four-year period as a part of its campaign to re-energise hockey in the country.