Alagendra confident it'll be ours

11/03/1999

MALAYSIAN Hockey Federation deputy president Datuk Seri P. Alagendra, normally not one to jump the gun, has taken on a confident gait in recent weeks.
And that's because he is upbeat about Malaysia's bid to host the 2002
World Cup.
Alagendra, now in Brussels to tie up the loose ends on the bid, said
recently: "We would have not placed a bid if we were not sure of winning
it for Malaysia."
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) will meet in Brussels today to
select the hosts for the next men's and women's World Cup tournaments.
The host countries of other FIH tournaments will also be announced.
Malaysia, who last hosted the World Cup in 1975 when they finished
fourth, are clear favourites to get the 2002 tournament.
The last men's and women's World Cup Finals were held in Utrecht,
Holland, and FIH are believed to be keen on an Asian host for 2002.
Spain and Belgium are the only countries challenging Malaysia in the
bid.
The other Asian countries to have hosted the World Cup are Bombay,
India, in 1982 and Lahore, Pakistan in 1990.
Spain hosted the tournament in 1971 while Belgium are first-timers.
For the women World Cup, Australia are the frontrunners.
FIH have narrowed the bidding process to technical, marketing and media - areas in which Malaysia are clear winners, too.
Officials and facilities are second to none in Malaysia while RTM
impressed the world with their capabilities as host broadcasters for the
Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.
At Utrecht, approximately 179 hours of hockey was aired in more than 40
countries.
"We have inserted recommendation letters from the mayor of Kuala Lumpur, RTM, Sports Ministry and other back-up departments in the 84-page bid document to assure FIH we have what it takes to host one of the best World Cup tournaments ever," said Alagendra.
The 12,000-seater National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil will be a
factor in securing the bid for Malaysia.
The 2002 World Cup will see a change in format as FIH, on the
recommendation of the Global Competition Task Force, approved a new global competition format in late November.
The format will see more teams competing with increased opportunities
for lesser-developed hockey playing countries to compete at world level.
The men's and women's World Cups will continue to be played every four
years but with the number of teams increasing to 16 (from 12), the
qualification and competition format has also undergone a change.
Qualification for the World Cup is now based on hosts, defending
champions, Continental Cup Winners (five teams), Olympic Games (between two and four), World Cup qualifiers (seven teams).
Previously, the World Cup was played in two pools of six teams in a
round-robin format, following the classification matches. The new format will see:
* First round - four pools of four teams in a round-robin;
* Second round - four pools of four teams; two pools to comprise the top
two teams in each pool from the first round, and two pools to comprise the bottom two teams in each pool of the first round.
* Third round - cross pool classification matches, to be followed by
final placing matches (1-16).
* The duration of the World Cup will be 13 days and it should be
conducted on two identical fields of play.
Some FIH officials who were in KL for the Commonwealth Games went home impressed with the crowd support shown by Malaysians irrespective of whether Malaysia or foreign teams were on the pitch.
(END)