WSH organisers mulls postponing event but HI unperturbed

NEW DELHI: World Series Hockey organisers might be mulling to postpone the event to avoid clash with the national camp for Olympics qualifier but Hockey India is not ready to give any assurance that they would not organize any program that might coincide with the rescheduled tournament.

Nimbus Sports, which is organising WSH with IHF, offered to reschedule their event to avoid any clash of dates and protect the interest of players but it also sought such an assurance from HI during the hearing on a PIL filed by former coach Joachim Caravalho in the Delhi high court.

WSH is scheduled to be held between December 17 to January 22 while Olympic qualifiers will be played from February 15 to 26 next year.

“We did not talk to anybody on this issue and nor are we going to accept any such proposal. Our national camp is going to be held from Sunday in Bangalore and that is final,” HI secretary general Narinder Batra said.

“There is no question of allowing our players in this unsanctioned league. No matter whenever they are going to organise it. Our Olympic qualifiers preparation schedule is fixed and we are not going to change it,” he said.

There were reports that Nimbus is ready to postpone this ambitious league till February 28 and has told some of the foreign players to wait till Sunday for their departure.

When asked about the possibility of rescheduling the league, Yannick Colaco, Nimbus COO, replied in negative.

However, highly-placed sources said that Nimbus sports is contemplating with the idea of organising the league after the Olympics qualifiers.

Nimbus and IHF officials have also met the sports ministry top brass regarding the issue but nothing has been finalised as of now.