Post hockey fiasco, India may not host WC

New Delhi: In a strong message, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has warned India that it may lose the right to host the 2010 World Cup.

The world body wants to see satisfactory progress in the FIH-backed developmental project — Promoting Indian Hockey — and in the preparations for the mega event.

"The FIH reconsidered the conditional awarding of the World Cup 2010 to New Delhi. After having carefully studied the progress made with the project 'Promoting Indian Hockey' as well as the actions taken in the preparation of the World Cup 2010, the Executive Board noted that satisfactory progress had not been made in either area," the FIH said in a statement.

After a two-day board meeting in Switzerland, the governing body said it has already started looking for alternative venues in case the event needed to be shifted out of India.

The blow comes soon after the Indian hockey lies in tatters with the men's team crashing out of Olympics qualifier and several key officials of Indian Hockey Federation stepping down.

The Indian federation has also been criticised for refusing to give a free hand to former Australian stalwart Ric Charlesworth, appointed as technical expert to Indian hockey on the international panel's recommendation.

There is a demand that the Government should take over of the federation in order to save the game in India.

Chief Hockey Coach Joaquim Carvalho stepped down along with his entire support staff, citing his failure to 'deliver results' as a to resign.

Angry hockey fans across the country had raised a clamour for the resignation of Indian Hockey Federation chief KPS Gill, but the former supercop-turned-sports-administration has stuck a defiant stand and has refused to step down.

An Indian hockey official said on Tuesday the federation would step up work to retain the World Cup.

"We have discussed the issue with all our members and we will take effective steps in this matter," Indian Hockey Federation Secretary K Jothikumaran was quoted by news agency Reuters as saying.

"We are confident we can address the issues raised by FIH. We will go all out to retain the World Cup in India," he was further quoted as saying.

(With inputs from agencies)

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