HI to conduct four-nation test event in January before WC

New Delhi, Nov 14 (PTI) The internal crisis in Hockey
India will not affect scheduled events in the country and the
body will organise a four-nation test event in January next
year before the Hero Honda FIH World Cup from February 28 to
March 13 here.
Hockey India President A K Mattoo said the National
Stadium, the main venue for the World Cup, would be ready by
December end and HI would be orgainsing a four-nation
tournament from January 17-21 to test the facilities.
However, the participating teams of the tournament are
yet to be finalized and it will be done once the last two
qualifying events of the World Cup are over this month.
"We have finalized the dates of the test event. It will
be held from January 17-21. At least one pitch would be in
place before the tournament," Mattoo told reporters.
"The teams have not yet been finalized because of the
late World Cup classification tournaments," he said.
International Hockey Federation President Vice President
Antonio von Ondarza, who is here as an observer for HI
elections, said the national federation has assured him that
the stadium will be ready by the last week of December.
"I visited the stadium during my stay here but Hockey
India officials have assured me that the stadium will be ready
by December end even though there is still a lot of work to be
done," Ondarza said. MORE PTI