FIH confirms India to host 2010 Men’s World Cup

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — The International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed Sunday that India will host the 2010 Men’s Hockey World Cup after “internal problems” surrounding the sport were resolved.

India had been told it could lose the event if the two separate bodies that run men and women’s hockey in the country did not form a single entity, as stipulated by FIH rules.

Problems arose when the Indian Olympic Association last year dissolved the country’s hockey federation over a bribery scandal, leading to the split.

However, after the warning in April from the FIH it was announced earlier this month that Hockey India had been formed as an umbrella group.

FIH president Leandro Negre said: “There will be no changes. New Delhi will host the World Cup as scheduled and everything is in place for them to do so.”

“They have sorted out their own internal problems, including the merger of their women’s and men’s federations. “They have also found a title sponsor for the tournament and I am happy for them,” Negre, in Malaysia’s southern Johor state for the Junior World Cup, told the country’s official Bernama news agency:

Malaysia had been named as an alternative venue if the problems were not overcome.

“We are thankful to Malaysia for agreeing to be the host if India cannot make it. But now there is no need for that,” he added.

Malaysia hosted the men’s World Cup in 1975 and 2002 while India last hosted the event in 1982.

Courtesy: News Agencies from Malaysia.