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Delhi to host 2010 Men's Hockey World Cup

Indian hockey received a shot in its arm with the International Hockey Federation deciding in principle that New Delhi will host the 2010 Men's World Cup.

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NEW DELHI: Indian hockey received a shot in its arm with the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Wednesday deciding in principle that New Delhi will host the 2010 Men's World Cup.
    
It will be after almost three decades that India will host the prestigious biennial event. The last and the only time India hosted the championship was way back in 1982 in Mumbai.
    
The 2010 Hockey World Cup will be a joint venture between FIH and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and is a result of the 'Project Promoting Indian Hockey' aimed at bringing back the glorious days of Indian hockey.
    
The final decision on allotting the event, however, will be taken in March 2008. It will depend upon achievement of set targets both in relation to the Project and the organization of the World Cup.
    
"We will work on several points before March one next year and I assure you that we are very committed to host the event in India. Both the FIH and the Indian Hockey Federation is committed to host it successfully," Els Van Breda Vriesman, the President of FIH said here.
    
"We are sure of fulfilling the commitments. I promise that the best ever World Cup would be in India," she said.
    
About the targets the International body has set for IHF to be achieved before the final confirmation, she said "some things are confidential. There is an agreement between the FIH and IHF not to disclose anything. Every thing would be clear after March 1".
    
The hosting of Commonwealth Games (October 2010) in the same year was cited as one of the reason why New Delhi was chosen for the World Cup. Dhyan Chand National Stadium will be the venue for the February 2010 event.
    
"The stadium (National Stadium) that will be the venue will also be the place where Commonwealth Games are scheduled to take place. The stadium will be ready by 2009. So Delhi was chosen," Vriesman said.
    
"The venue will have three artificial pitches, while Shivaji stadium would be used for practice," she added.
    
Vriesman stressed the need to promote hockey in India.
    
"Promoting hockey in India is crucial. Hockey is the national sport of India but the performance is not upto the mark. It is sad for a country having 1 billion population," she said.
    
"Hockey needs the support of the corporate world, passionate people, young people in India," she added.
    
The World Cup Governing Board was also announced on the occasion with former Dutch International Andre Bolhuis as its Chairman. A Special Organising Committee for the World Cup was also announced with IHF Secretary K Jothikumaran as its interim chairman.
    
On the prospects of the Indian team in the event, Vriesman said that she hoped India to play in the semis.

 

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