The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : India-Pakistan hockey series in doubt

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Friday, Sep 03, 2004

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Sport - Hockey

India-Pakistan hockey series in doubt

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, SEPT. 2. The much-touted India-Pakistan hockey series, scheduled for September-October, may end up a non-starter.

It looks almost certain that the Bangalore Test match, slated for October 10, will be a non-event, going by the developments on Thursday.

IHF President, K.P.S. Gill, during a telephonic discussion with Karnataka State Hockey Association Secretary, K. Krishnamurthy on Thursday, inquired about the possibility of staging the postponed Nationals.

Earlier, the IHF had decided to hold the Nationals in September in order to give a break for the players prior to the Olympics. Then came the sudden announcement of conducting the Indo-Pak Test series forgetting the fate the Nationals. Now the focus seems to be shifted to the domestic tournament.

The KSHA Secretary, during the conversation, expressed the difficulties in finding sponsorship for the India -Pakistan match.

According to the terms, KSHA has to guarantee IHF Rs 5 lakh and raise another Rs 5 lakh by way of in-stadia advertising and hoardings apart from sponsorship.

To make things worse, the IHF had given rights for 70 per cent of the advertising area for Leisure Sports Management, leaving 30 per cent of the space for KSHA, mostly rear spots.

And after the Olympic debacle, KSHA is finding it hard to sell advertisement space. Another factor was that Bangalore Test would be played on October 10 — the final day of the India-Australia cricket Test.

In view of these difficulties, KSHA decided to hold a meeting to discuss the viability of staging the Test match on September 8. Mr. Gill has, however, asked for a decision by September 3.

So KSHA will hold the meeting on Friday to convey its decision to the IHF President.

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