New Delhi: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) will decide during the Junior Asia Cup, which kicks off in Hyderabad on Friday, on whether India would host the prestigious 2010 Hockey World Cup.
The FIH had provisionally awarded the 2010 World Cup to New Delhi, but after India’s failure to qualify for Beijing Olympics, the world body had kept a confirmation on hold till substantial progress was not made in FIH-involved development projects in the country.
Ad-hoc Selection Committee chairman Aslam Sher Khan said a decision on whether India would host the mega event would be known after FIH delegation’s visit to India during the Junior Asia Cup.
“We already had a round of negotiations with the FIH officials earlier.
Another high level FIH delegation will be in Hyderabad during the last three days of the Asia Cup where everything will be finalised,” Sher Khan said from Hyderabad.
“We will more or less come to a conclusion after discussing the matter with the FIH officials during this tournament,” he added.
The latest uneasiness on India’s part came after Malaysian Hockey Federation wrote to the FIH expressing their willingness to stage the event if the world body decides to change the venue. In such a case, India will not also be able to take part in the quadrennial event. PTI