Security fears prompt Champions Trophy move to Malaysia
28/09/2007 |
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Malaysia will stage this year's elite Champions Trophy tournament after it was moved out of Pakistan over security concerns, the International Hockey Federation has announced.
The event will be played in the National Hockey Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, the same venue as the 2002 Men’s World Cup from 29 November until 9 December 2007.
Australia and South Korea refused to play in Lahore over security concerns and the FIH decided to shift the event.
‘We are happy that the Malaysia Hockey Confederation was able to accept the responsibility to host this important event,’ FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman said on the FIH website. ‘We know that time for the preparation is short but we are confident that the Samsung Champions Trophy will be a success under the organization of Malaysia.’
Malaysia agreed to host the event after the FIH decided that it was impossible to play the Samsung Champions Trophy in Lahore, Pakistan.
With Malaysia as new host, the Samsung Champions Trophy 2007 will be expanded to eight teams and the tournament will be played as a 1 pool competition. The six original participants Australia, Germany, Korea, Netherlands, Pakistan and Spain will be joined by the host Malaysia and Great Britain.
FIH decided to invite Pakistan to participate as some compensation for the disappointment of not being able to host the tournament. Malaysia is added as the host together with England (to be represented by Great Britain) because of its 5th ranking at the World Cup 2006. President Vriesman said “This is a fair and just outcome taking all factors into account and ensures the top teams in the world will be able to utilize the tournament as part of their preparations for the Beijing Olympic Games.”
The FIH will release the match schedule in the next couple of weeks.
(Source: AIPS)
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