Indira Hockey ‘90 unlikely Chandigarh, The fourth Indira Gandhi International Gold Cup Hockey Tournament for men, schedule for January, 1990 at Lucknow, is likely to be can celled this time,
‘According to information available here, defending champions Pakistan have expressed their inability to send their team this time, The reason given is that since Pakistan will be hosting the seventh World Cup Hockey Tournament for men in Lahore in February, 1990 it was feasible for them to send their national team to defend the title. Other top teams ‘which will be playing at Lahore may also prefer to train at home rather expose their teams to a competition a couple of weeks before the prestigious World Cup. Besides India will be organizing the Asia Cup Hockey Tournament for men in Delhi in December. Three tournaments in three ‘months will be too hectic even for the home team, especially when the Indian team does not hold any position on the international scene. Rather, India have been trying to stage a comeback and are at present in the process of rebuilding their tea. The Present indications are that the Lucknow tournament will be cancelled. The only alternative could be the home team playing matches against second rung international teams of the Asian and African subcontinents, which may deprive the tournament of all its charm and glamour, The Honary Secretary of the Indian Hockey Federation, Mr. Kishen Lal Passi, is of the opinion that he Lucknow tournament should be cancelled.
Meanwhile, the [HF likely to get the Asia ‘Cup Hockey tournament sponsored ina big way. Indications are that the IHF has located a sponsor who is willing to pay Rs 35 lakh for the Asia Cup.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 27, 1989
