HI takes firm charge of affairs

Announces squad for Champions Challenge TO BE to be held in South Africa from November 26

M.S.Unnikrishnan

Hockey India (HI) has taken a firm foot hold of the administration of the game in the country after the International Hockey Federation (FIH) recognized it as the sole custodians of hockey during its Executive Board meeting at Lausanne (Switzerland) on November 14. HI announced here today that India will participate in the Champions Challenge Trophy Tournament in South Africa from November 26 to December 4.

India were given a slot in the Champions Challenge after the FIH shifted the Champions Trophy from New Delhi to Auckland (New Zealand) as a reprisal when the Sports Ministry played the role of a mediator to bring together HI and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) to forge a working relationship. The FIH stuck to the stand of one federation for one sport to be in tune with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Charter.

India have been drawn in Pool A of the Champions Challenge, along with Belgium, Poland and hosts South Africa. Pool B consists of Canada, Argentina, Malaysia and Japan.

Hockey India has retained custodian Bharat Chetri as the captain, with Tushar Khandker as his deputy. They have a combined experience of 318 international matches, including Chetri’s 116 caps. India will meet Belgium in the opening match on November 26, followed by matches against South Africa (Nov 27) and Poland (Nov 29).

HI, at its second Annual General Meeting held here, named former Indian captain Ajitpal Singh as the chairman of the Coaching and Development Committee. Ajitpal has the historic feat of leading India to their only World Cup victory in 1975 at Kuala Lumpur, and represented the country in three Olympic Games, World Cups and Asian Games from 1968 to 1976. He had earlier headed the senior selection committee.

Meanwhile, Ten Sports has entered into a long-term partnership with the FIH to acquire the broadcasting/telecasting rights for the major FIH-sanctioned events till 2014. FIH president Leandro Negre said, “We are delighted to extend our long-term partnership with Ten Sports for a further four years. This deal is of unprecedented value to the FIH, not only in terms of the record license fee, but also for us to guarantee hockey fans and FIH sponsors unparalleled exposure for the world’s best hockey events”.

Thus, Ten Sports will be telecasting the following tournaments: Champions Challenge, South Africa (Nov-Dec 2011), Champions Trophy (New Zealand, December 2011), Olympic qualifiers (Delhi, February 2012), Champions Trophy (Australia, Dec 2012), World League semis (Germany, June 2013), Junior World Cup for men (India, Nov 2013), World League finals (India, December 2013), Champions Trophy (Argentina, 2013) and World Cup (Netherlands-Hague, June 2014).

Follwing is the Indian team for the Champions Challenge in SA: Bharat Kumar Chetri and P.R. Sreejesh (goalkeepers), Manjeet Kullu, Rupinder Pal Singh, V.R. Raghunath, Sandeep Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Sardar Singh, Arjun Halappa, Manpreet Singh, Birender Lakra, Sarvanjit Singh, Yuvraj Walmiki, S.V. Sunil, Danish Mujtaba, Tushar Khandker, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam and Shivendra Singh. Chief coach: Michael Jack Nobbs; coaches: Mohd. Riaz and B.J.Kariappa.

Meanwhile, HI has stuck to its stated stand that those players, who would be attending the national camps, would not be released for the World Series Hockey (WSH), to be held from December 17, though most of the top Indian players have been contracted by WSH for playing in the league.