No plan to move WC from India: FIH chief

New Delhi: A change in guard at the highest level of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the recent terror strikes in Mumbai are unlikely to have a bearing on India hosting the 2010 World Cup in Delhi.

In his first interview to an Indian media ever since assuming office of president of the game’s governing body (FIH), Leandro Negre told ToI on Thursday that he does not see any reason at the moment to move the game away from India. He, however, said FIH would be keeping a close watch on the situation in India, including political ones, in the run up to the event.

“At this stage there is no reason not to host the 2010 men’s World Cup in India. The FIH signed the memorandum of understanding for our showcase event in August this year and I don’t see any reason for me to change this,” Negre said in an email.

“However, the FIH will monitor the situation in India carefully to make sure that the event will be organised at the highest possible level as we will have a close look on the political situation in India too.” The Spaniard, who replaced Els van Breda Vriesman, also suggested that the world body would continue supporting the project concerning revival of Indian hockey . “India is one of the key nations in hockey . The FIH started the project Promoting Indian Hockey in late 2006 and under my leadership this project will definitely not end.”

In a bid to make the game grow in popularity, he said he was planning to bring in more professionalism to world level events. He also said the game’s task would be to ensure it’s presence in future Olympics.

“Being present at the Olympic Games is still the most important task for hockey . The FIH Missions Statement (to encourage, promote, develop and administer hockey at all levels in order to maintain hockey as an Olympic sport on the Olympic Programme and maximise participation, standards, enjoyment and community involvement) is clear about that.

“To make sure that this will happen, the FIH should professionalise its World Level Events and this is one of the main tasks in the coming years.”Negre said he would discuss different issues with people involved in the FIH in the coming couple of months “in order to be able to start in a proper way” as the FIH president.

“The FIH and hockey became more and more professional in the last years. I will continue to work in that way. All the decisions that will be made in the coming years will all be in the benefit of hockey in general,” he said.