The Indian women team's superb performance at the Asia Cup, particularly their attacking style, has come in for praise from the continent's hockey fraternity who on Saturday said the country deserves to be in next year's World Cup.
The International Hockey Federation's (FIH) Executive Board has made some changes to the rules of the game which will be implemented from next year.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) could take away next year's World Cup in New Delhi unless India forms a single national federation for the men's and women's game, its president Leandro Negre said. He said Malaysia is the standby venue but he was confident India would resolve the matter in time.
India's captain Dilip Tirkey has been selected in the World hockey All-Star team 2006.
Alleging breach of contract and intended violation of the Foreign Exchange Act, the Indian Hockey Confederation (IHC) has requested the Reserve Bank of India to stop payment of US $500,000 by the 2010 World Hockey Cup organisers to the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
The government on Wednesday issued an ultimatum to Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation to merge by July 25, failing which the Sports Ministry will take a decision and intimate the Supreme Court about it.
Keen to revive bilateral ties with India, the Pakistan Hockey Federation is planning to host the country for a Test series and has got the government's clearance for it even though the dates are yet to be finalised.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said the government should not associate itself with the Hockey India elections, due Wednesday, as it is a private body. The Court also held that Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) is the only recognised body for the sport in the country.
Hockey Olympian Aslam Sher Khan is of the opinion that Indian hockey is run on the whims of FIH and there was no need to have a foreign coach on board.
Here are hockey players to watch when the Games formally kick off on July 23:
Mandaviya addresses state of Indian football
Is this the grand revival? - Message board.
The central government will have the power to "impose reasonable restrictions" on the international participation of Indian teams and individual athletes under "extraordinary circumstances", as per the National Sports Governance Bill that was tabled in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation has sought advice and security clearance from its government to send its team to New Delhi for the World Cup, which begins on February 28. PHF secretary Asif Bajwa said the federation is seeking security clearance from government ministries as it has concerns over playing in India.
The Mission Olympic Cell is also considering higher incentives for retired Olympians and world-class players who want to take up coaching, in an effort to retain top talent within India.
Ace forward Dhanraj Pillay was not considered for selection as he is still nursing an injury.\n\n
The IHF wants the team to train in the United States and has asked the players to report to Delhi on Sunday.
Six Olympians have written to the President seeking to draw his attention to the autocratic way in which the IHF was being run
The FIH Athletes Committee serves as a consultative body and makes recommendations to the FIH Executive Board, FIH Committees, Advisory Panels and other bodies.
Acceding to a request from the International Hockey Federation (FIH), the Indian Premier League has decided to advance the March 13 match between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals by an hour to provide a clear window for the hockey World Cup final.
The IHF said reports of the SARS disease resurfacing in the country forced the cancellation.
As per the proposed format, Rs 7.1 million will be on offer in two divisions of the league, expected to get underway in September.
The Indian team management on Monday appealed to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) against suspensions imposed on five members of the squad for their role in the ugly showdown with Pakistan players during the tri-nation tournament match in Burnbury, Australia, last week.
Sreejesh was the cynosure of all eyes as he consistently denied Great Britain scoring opportunities
India's Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched the Digilocker facility for athletes, making it mandatory for national federations to digitise certificates and other essential documents of sportspersons within the next year. The initiative, launched in the presence of representatives from 40 National Sports Federations, aims to ensure hassle-free record-keeping and prevent exploitation of athletes. The cloud-based platform, developed by Digital India Corporation (DIC), allows for storage and verification of documents. The ministry has also announced that physical certificates will no longer be considered valid after one year.
Prior to the tournament, the team will participate in a four-nation tournament at Bilboe, Spain.
Pakistan, Australia, Malaysia and India may use the September-scheduled tournament to prepare for the Champions Trophy in December.
A pall of gloom shrouded the Pakistan hockey community after the national team failed to qualify for the Olympics.
Union sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar lashed out at the Indian Hockey Federation, saying "it is a matter of shame that a team which has been part of the Olympics for the past 80 years and won several gold and silver medals failed to qualify for the Beijing Games". Eight-time champions India lost 0-2 to Great Britain on Sunday night in the final of the second Olympic qualifier in Santiago, Chile, and failed to make it to the quadrennial event for the first time in 80 years.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has introduced two new experimental rules designed to make the game easier to understand and more attractive to watch.
The Hockey Junior World Cup Men is scheduled to take place from December 8 till December 18, in Lucknow, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Thursday confirmed.
Balbir Sr's three Olympic gold medals came in London (1948), Helsinki (1952) as vice-captain, and Melbourne (1956) as captain.
India may have lost the right to host the Champions Trophy but there is no threat to the 2012 Olympic qualifiers to be held in India in February as Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), is hopeful of forming an unified body along with Hockey India (HI) before the tournament.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Friday announced that India will host the 2010 hockey World Cup. After the FIH board meeting in Hyderabad on Friday, a decision was made that the 2010 World Cup will be held in New Delhi.
The duo, who missed the Afro-Asian Games due to injury, were included in the 18-member team.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation called off its planned three-nation tournament later this month after India pulled out of the event. India's withdrawal came after Malaysia, the third team in the proposed tournament, pulled out two days back.
The team wants to practice under floodlights as all the Asia Cup matches will be held at night.
While India will play host to the men's tournament, Spain and the Netherlands have been named as the co-host of the 2022 Women's World Cup scheduled to be held from July 1 to 22.
