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MUMBAI:
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has decided that
Malaysia will host the 2007 Men’s Samsung Champions Trophy.
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.
Malaysia
agreed to host the event after the FIH decided that it was
impossible to play the event in Lahore, Pakistan.
FIH
president Els van Breda Vriesman says, " We are happy
that the Malaysia Hockey Confederation was able to accept
the responsibility to host this important event. We know that
time for the preparation is short but we are confident that
the Samsung Champions Trophy will be a success under the organisation
of Malaysia."
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 fith ranking
at the World Cup 2006.
Vriesman
adds, “This is a fair and just outcome taking all factors
into account and ensures the top teams in the world will be
able to utilise the tournament as part of their preparations
for the Beijing Olympic Games.”
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