Chennai, Dec 6: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is not yet ready to increase the number of teams in the senior men’s World Cup to 24, as it has done for the ongoing junior event, citing a huge gap in performance levels.
For the first time, 24 teams are participating in the Junior World Cup in both the men’s and women’s categories, a decision that FIH president Tayyab Ikram said was part of the sport’s development process. He, however, said that he does not foresee an expansion of the senior World Cup from the existing 16 teams to 24 in the near future. “For the senior World Cup we need to look at different aspects. If you ask me today, we are not ready,” Ikram said.
“The top nations who are already playing in the FIH Pro League and teams in the World Cup who are not playing in the Pro League, there is a huge gap of performance between them. And if you add more teams into it then we also need to have a reasonable competitive level.
“About the hosting and bidding capability, I think we are ready but we have to see other aspects also, we have to market our sport, we have to sell the great performances of our athletes. This (the Junior World Cup) is not only a competition, this is also a development process for our future young stars.
“It is a landmark event because for the first time 24 nations are participating in FIH Junior World Cup. In Santiago (Women’s Junior World Cup) too 24 nations are participating, overall 48 nations. For me it’s a historical moment because it’s a part of FIH engagement and empowerment initiative.”
India has been a big market for FIH for more than a decade, and the sport’s international body’s chief said the country will continue to remain a close associate in future. (PTI)
