No reason to shift WC from India: Negre
23 Jun 2009, V Narayan Swamy,TNN

BANGALORE: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has no plans to shift the 2010 World Cup hockey tournament from New Delhi. At least, as of no
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Categorical in his statement, FIH president Leandro Negre said there was no reason for the world body to look for another host at this point of time. In fact, he said he would “like to have a full progress report on the World Cup during my next visit to India”.

Fears that the World Cup may be moved out of India pervaded the hockey fraternity in the country last week after Malaysia announced that it had been placed on stand-by. Reports from Johor even quoted Malaysian Hockey Federation president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah as saying that although it was important that the World Cup be held as scheduled in New Delhi, he would tell Negre in no uncertain terms that the country “is ready and will be able to host the tournament any time”.

But Negre, who is scheduled to visit India on June 25, was quick to put an end to speculation. “At this stage, the FIH World Cup will take place in Delhi next year. We have at this stage no reason to shift (it out of the country).”

Excerpts from an exclusive interview to TOI:

The FIH has given formal recognition to Hockey India. How is this possible without first conducting the elections and merger of state units?

Setting up a new national association is a complex process. Hockey India has made the first steps to create a new governing body in India. The next steps have to be made in the next months.

The FIH is looking forward to reports that meetings between Hockey India and the state associations have been scheduled and trust it will be forming single state hockey bodies for both men and women for the smooth running of hockey in the states. The new state associations have to be formally accepted as members of Hockey India.

Furthermore, the FIH is awaiting democratic elections in the coming months.

What will be your agenda during your visit to India? What will be your message to both JB Roy and Suresh Kalmadi?

When I will visit India the next time, I would like to speak with all stakeholders and help them to take the next steps necessary for Hockey India. Furthermore, I would like to have a full progress report on the FIH World Cup.

At this point of time, do you think the 2010 World Cup in India is under threat? With not much progress made towards conducting elections and placing an elected body at the helm, is the FIH thinking of shifting the World Cup from India?

At this stage, the FIH World Cup will take place in Delhi next year. We have at this stage no reason to shift.

Will the FIH play a proactive role in restoring normalcy in Indian hockey. The infighting has taken its toll. The FIH will assist wherever it can.

Would you want Roy, Kalmadi and KPS Gill to come together so that stability is restored in Indian hockey?

The FIH would like that during the next months Hockey India will be a stable governing body for both mens and womens hockey in India.

Courtesy: Times of India