Asian hockey poised for big leap

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Chennai, Sep 9: In an effort to give a new thrust to hockey in the Asian continent, once a superpower in the sport, the Asian Hockey Confederation (AHC) will launch two new competitions in 2008, including the Asian Champions Trophy and an Asian Super Four tourney leading to the formation of an Asian All Star team for the first time.

Announcing this at a press conference after the Competitions Committee meeting of AHC, its Secretary General Alagendra told newspersons on the sidelines of the ongoing Asia Cup, that the top six Asian teams would be figuring in the Asian Champions Trophy.

''The idea mooted by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) chief K P S Gill has been accepted by AHC,'' he said and added the first three editions of this competition in 2008, 2009 and 2010 would be hosted by India.

The top four finishers in the Asian Champions Trophy would play a Super-4 series, from which an Asian All Star team would be picked for the first time, he also announced.

Mr Alagendra said the Asian All Star team would then play against another All Star team from any top hockey playing continent on home and away basis.

''This idea has been mooted to fill the void of quality tourneys in Asian continent,'' he said.

He said the idea was also to raise good finances to be used for development of hockey in Asia and gain recognition for outstanding players in Asia.

Observing that the earlier Continental Classic, now defunct, could not sustain itself, he said the argument of Asian coaches that they be given more exposure to European methods, was only partly true.

''I have been a player as well as a coach. There are excellent coaches in Asian continent,'' he asserted.

Mr Alagendra said the 2009 edition of Asia Cup for which bids would be accepted to host the event after the current edition, would be the direct qualifying tourney for the World Cup.

Announcing the other decisions taken at the meeting he said India would host the sixth Junior Asia Cup tourney at New Delhi from October 11-19 next year, while the fifth Junior Asia Cup for women would be held in Kuala Lumpur, the second junior AHF Cup for Men in Muscat in Oman from January 12-22 after being postponed five months ago.

He said hockey would be included as a discipline in the second Asian Indoor Games to be hosted by Macau from Octoer 26 to Nov three.

''This is welcome as experts have been contending that indoor hockey is essential for the development of field hockey,'' he observed.

UNI