New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) The International Hockey Federation (FIH) today threatened to shift next year's World Cup out of India unless the ad-hoc committee, running the sport in the country, puts in place a democratically elected federation within six months.
An FIH delegation, led by President Leandro Negre, is presently on a three-day visit to India to take stock of preparations for the 2010 World Cup to be held here from March 7 to 20.
Although the FIH President has expressed satisfaction over security issues and construction work of the stadiums, he warned that it won't be possible to host the mega event in India without a unified body -- Hockey India -- consisting of both the men's and women's federations under one roof.
He said that the FIH has prepared a plan 'B' in case officials running Indian hockey -- the IOA-appointed ad-hoc committee -- fail to abide by their recommendations.
In that scenario, the mega event might be shifted to Malaysia as they have already expressed desire to host it.
"The FIH is determined to host the World Cup in India. Our goal is to have the best World Cup in Delhi, but the event can't be held without a federation.
"India need a unified body to run hockey before the World Cup. It is essential. But we have received promise from the IOA that within six months everything will be set up," Negre told reporters here.
PTI
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