World Cup dates advanced

NEW DELHI, MAY 15. The World Cup hockey tournament, scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur in March next year, has been advanced by a week as its dates clash with Formula One car racing event.

The tournament, which was scheduled from March 4 to 16, will now be held from February 25 to March 9, the Indian Hockey Federation secretary-general, Mr. K. Jothikumaran said here on Tuesday.

Kuala Lumpur will be hosting the prestigious tournament for the second time. India recorded its only Cup triumph when the city organised it in 1975 for the first time.

PHF's no to change in Champions Trophy dates

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) made it clear that it will not change the dates of the Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in Lahore from November 3 to 11. ``There is no question of rescheduling the dates,'' the PHF secretary Musaratullah Khan said. The dates clash with the first Afro Asian Games to be held in New Delhi (November 3 to 11).

India had urged the international hockey federation (FIH) for the change of dates so that Asian champion Korea and Pakistan take part in the Afro Asian hockey event. ''The PHF has informed the FIH that it was not possible at this stage to change the dates of the event.'' Mr. Khan said.

He said the PHF has told FIH secretary Peter Cohen that the dates for the Champions Trophy had been decided after much deliberations keeping in view the SAF Games to be held at Islamabad in October. ``The holy month of Ramzan starts soon after the Champions Trophy which makes it impossible for us to change the dates,'' he said.

''The Champions Trophy is a big event as compared to Afro-Asian Games. So the hosts of the games should change the dates,'' he asserted.

- PTI & UNI

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