FIH hand India Lion's share

By K. Arumugam

Events that India got include
2011 FIH Men’s Champions Trophy – India, 26th November-4th December.
2012 Olympic Qualifiers men and women in February
2013 World Series Round 4: India (M) – 8-15 September
2013 Junior World Cup (M&W) - India, 2-17 November 2013
2014 FIH Women’s Champions Trophy – India, February

India gets a bonanza of sorts getting valuable tournaments allotted by the FIH. This hockey conscious country will stage almost all genres of major tournaments in the next four years including Junior World Cups, Champions Trophies, Olympic Qualifiers and a round of World Series. India got a lion's share of tournaments for its soils when the FIH in its Congress yesterday decided the calendar for next four years.
During the course of the March World Cup, FIH president Leondro Negri announced major tournaments for every year, and it looks he fulfilled his words now
Most heartening development in the sequence of allotment is inclusion of many events for women, a vastly potential but under-harnessed asset of India. Further, with some tournaments of 2014 yet to be decided for want of takers (?), India might chip in for a slice there also.
The grand success of both the World Cup and Commonwealth Games, where the enthusiastic crowd was the talking point, must have prompted the FIH to go for India kill.
The allotment of Olympic Qualifiers in 2012 is a great step, which will help India to get into the Olympic company in case Asian Games do not prove good enough. This is a godsend for Indian women, in particular, to resurrect themselves.
Meanwhile The Netherlands will host next men's and women's World cup at The Hague in 2004.

Malaysia lose Qualifier bid to Japan

THE International Hockey Federation (FIH) chose Japan instead of Malaysia to host one leg of the 2012 London Olympic Qualifiers.
And the Netherlands will be the host nation for the Men’s and Women’s FIH World Cups in 2014. The decision was confirmed by the Executive Board and announced on Thursday evening at a special ceremony at the FIH Congress and Forum in Montreux, Switzerland.
“It was an incredibly difficult decision to make”, said FIH President Leandro Negre shortly after revealing the winner. “The bids from The KNHB and England Hockey were both outstanding, two of the best that we have ever seen. It was a very close decision, but we offer our congratulations to The Netherlands, who we are sure will stage an unforgettable double World Cup event. England Hockey's bid has reinforced their importance as a partner for future FIH events, and we are keen to maximise the use of London 2012's legacy facility.”
The Men’s and Women’s FIH World Cup will take place in The Hague between 2 – 15 June 2014.
As well as the tournament announcements, the ceremony also witnessed the signing of the new Memorandum of Understanding between the Continental Hockey Federations and the FIH. This is an extremely significant moment for hockey as it reinforces the importance of a close working relationship between the FIH and the five Continental Federations that play a crucial role in developing the game from grass roots to elite level and in ensuring hockey is a vibrant and sustainable sport in their regions and member countries. Memorandums of Understanding between the FIH and all five continental federations have been concluded to reinforce the importance of a close working relationship.
The FIH can also reveal the tournament cycle for the next four years. The following tournament allocations are proposed, subject to finalizing the contractual arrangements.
Tournaments 2011-2014.
2011
FIH Indoor World Cup – Poland, 8-13 February.
FIH Women’s Champions Trophy, The Netherlands, 25 June-3 July
FIH Men’s Champions Trophy – India, 26th November-4th December.
FIH Women’s Champions Challenge 1 – Ireland, 18/19 – 25/26 June
FIH Men’s Champions Challenge 1 – South Africa, Dates TBC
FIH Women’s Champions Challenge 2 – Austria, 8-14 May
FIH Men’s Champions Challenge 2 – France, 3-9 July
2012
FIH Olympic Qualifiers: Azerbaijan (W) TBC / Japan (M&W) – 25 April – 6 May / India (M&W) – February / Final Men’s Qualifier location and date TBD.
World Series Rounds 1 & 2 – TBC
FIH Women’s Champions Trophy – Argentina, February
FIH Men’s Champions Trophy – Australia, June
Olympic Test Event – London, 2-6 May
London 2012 Olympic Games – 27 July – 12 August
2013
World Series Round 3: Pakistan (M) – February / Germany (M) – June / Netherlands (W) – June / China (W) – June
World Series Round 4: India (M) – 8-15 September / Argentina (W) – December
Junior World Cup (M&W) - India, 2-17 November 2013
2014
World Series Round 1 – Details TBC
FIH Men’s Champions Trophy – Argentina, February
FIH Women’s Champions Trophy – India, February
FIH Champions Challenge 1 – TBC
FIH Champions Challenge 2 – TBC
FIH Men’s & Women’s World Cup – The Netherlands, 2-15 June
World Series Round 2 – TBC
Youth Olympic Games – China, 16-28 August 2014.
2015
FIH Indoor World Cup – Germany, 3-8 February

Malaysia bid for Olympic Qualifier

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) took early pre cautions to bid for the Olympic Qualifier, even before their men played their first match in the Asian Games in China.
The Asian Games offers one ticket to the Olympics, and it would be tough for Malaysia to snatch it from the jaws of South Korea, India and Pakistan.
Only Japan, who hosted the 2008 Olympic Qualifiers, are the other bidder and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) will decide on the host today.
Malaysia have never hosted an Olympic Qualifier.
And that is why, the MHF president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad and general manager Maninderjit Singh are in Switzerland to lobby for the bid.
The FIH will also be announcing the host countries for the Men’s and Women’s FIH World Cups, which will take place in 2014.
The FIH has received two bids for the showpiece events, with England and The Netherlands both giving a clear commitment to stage the tournaments.
“Both the president and manager are in Switzerland and the early indications are that Malaysia have an added edge because we have never hosted the event, while Japan hosted in in 2008,” said an MHF official who declined to be named as the council have yet to appoint some key positions after its Biennial General Meeting on Oct 31.
In the Asian Games, Malaysia have a relatively easy passage into the semi-finals as they should beat Singapore and Oman, and then afford a defeat against South Korea.
Their final match is against China, and it is expected to decided on the second semi-finalists from Group A.
Pakistan and India are the strong contenders for the semi- finals from Group B which also has Japan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong.

Only one change in MHF

Deputy president: Nur Azmi Ahmad (pic).
Vice presidents: Datuk Sri Che Khalib Noh, Datuk Rahim Mohamed Ariff, M. Gobinathan, Majid Manjid Abdullah.

NUR Azmi Ahmad (pic) retained his deputy president’s post by three votes at the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) elections in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
He received 14 votes, while his challengers Tunku Majid Sultan Iskandar got 11, Datuk Dr S.S. Chema 10 and Abdul Hadi 1.
In the vice-presidents’ race, three incumbents retained their seats with Datuk Seri Che Khalib Noh receiving 29 votes, Datuk Rahim Mohamed Ariff 26, and M. Gobinathan 25. The newcomer is Majid Manjit Abdullah who received 18 votes.
The total number of votes should have been 42, but Perlis HA (two votes) did not attend as it has been deregistered, while the secretary and treasurer were also not allowed to vote as their posts are now appointed and not elected.
That left 38 votes, but Sabah vice-president Ramlee Marahaban did not turn up, while MHF president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah abstained, leaving the ballot with only 36 votes.
“I hope everyone accepts the outcome of today’s (yesterday’s) voting and we close ranks because there is much work to be done over the next four years,” said Tengku Abdullah.
“And I would like to warn the affiliates and those who have just been voted in that if there is disharmony in MHF after this, I can always use my exit option and leave.”
Tengku Abdullah then touched on the 1Mas Hoki Programme and said that the prime minister has given MHF RM2 million and he wants to see accountability.
“Every Ringgit must be spent on developing players and buying equipment, nothing must be wasted,” he said.
“The prime minister will launch the 1Mas Hoki Programme, which took off in the middle of the year, on Dec 13 and he had said that he wants to see the project become a success and not die off prematurely,” added Tengku Abdullah.
“And since the PM and also the TM (Tengku Mahkota) are involved to make it a success, I want full commitment from the states so that in future we can have a bigger pool of talent to select from.”
Nur Azmi was elated with the win, but said there should not be a split in MHF after today.
“Voting is a democratic process and everyone should accept its outcome. In the end, all of us are working for the betterment of hockey, and should remain as friends and work towards a common goal,” said Nur Azmi.
And the immediate goal, said Tengku Abdullah, is to break into the world’s top 10 and this can be achieved if Malaysia qualify for the next World Cup.

Holy Cow! US$1,000,000 birdie...

BEN Crane of the United States had to wait until the final hole, where his birdie hit a jackpot of US1,000,000 in the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic at the Mines Golf and County Club.
He was tied on 17-under with Brian Davis of England, who had finished earlier, and the prospect of a playoff loomed large when his birdie attempt shot landed eight-feet from the pin at the 18th.
But Crane did not miss a beat and the sent in the ball with ease, and jumped with joy to celebrate the windfall at 18-under 266.