Can Hockey India get back Champions Trophy?

With New Zealand announced new venue,talks are on to bring coveted tournament back to India.

With FIH chief Leandro Negre all set to meet Sports Minister Ajay Maken tomorrow,Hockey India today expressed confidence that it will able to convince the world governing body of the game to restore the Champions Trophy tournament back to the country.

FIH had stripped the high-profile tournament of India as it raised objection to the way the game is being run in the country. FIH had objections to the recent agreement between the HI and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF),which was brokered by the sports ministry,to administer the game.

Meanwhile,New Zealand got the hosting rights of the high-profile Champions Trophy to be held from December 3 to 11.

Story continues below this ad

New Zealand,ranked number seven in the world,will replace India in the Champions Trophy. India was originally allotted a place in the Champions Trophy as the host,but has now been extended an invitation to play as the top-seeded team at the Champions Challenge in November in South Africa, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said in a statement.

It is always tough to move an event out of any country,but I have to say that the silver lining is the bid from New Zealand, Negre said in the FIH statement.

New Zealand will put on a first-rate Champions Trophy and has been extremely flexible and professional given the tough circumstances and tight timeline. I know that they will do an excellent job hosting the event.

New Zealand,on its part is excited to get the opportunity to bring the event to Auckland.

Story continues below this ad

It is a privilege to be hosting this event. We have been overwhelmed how quickly our key partners have come together to offer support to ensure this is a truly fantastic event. We have the structure in place and with work already underway,we are confident that we can deliver a world-class event in a short timeframe, said Hockey New Zealand Chief Executive Hilary Poole.

The schedule of the 2011 Men’s Champions Trophy will be released in the upcoming weeks,but it is certain that the dates of December 3-11 will remain fixed.

However,it is learnt that the main reason for FIH to deny India the hosting rights was the pending payment of USD five lakh with regard to last year’s World Cup. The money has been blocked by Reserve Bank of India,according to FIH.

According to sources,FIH was to get Rs one crore and 87 lakh for title sponsorship and the air tickets of the umpires and by the time Negre lands in India,the payment would have been credited to FIH’s account.

Story continues below this ad

HI,IHF and the Sports Ministry officials today met ahead of the meeting.

HI Secretary Narinder Batra was hopeful that India will get back the Champions Trophy.

I see a ray of hope. FIH has not named new hosts yet. We will ask Negre what are the FIH’s objections? Sometimes language creates misunderstandings, said Batra. Apart from Batra,HI’s Rajeev Mehta,IHF President R K Shetty,advisor KPS Gill and Secretary Ashok Mathur and Rahul Bhatnagar,Joint Seceratry Sports Ministry,were present in the meeting today.

Mathur said that Negre will also meet Hero Honda,the title sponsors of the World Cup. Mathur said FIH cannot on one hand say that the sports ministry should not interfere in the running of the game in India and on the other ask it to intervene in getting the USD 5 lakh pending payment.

Story continues below this ad

We contest objections by FIH that two bodies are running the game. It is only HI which is in charge of hockey in the country. HI is an affiliated body to FIH. India will continue to participate in international events under HI banner. We have become party to the agreement with HI to facilitate the management of hockey in the country, he said.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) boycotted the meeting.

We are against government’s interference in this matter. We will meet Negre separately tomorrow, IOA acting President Vijay Kumar Malhotra said.