New Delhi: The Junior Hockey World Cup is scheduled for November 25 to December 5 this year in India, but the tournament has not heard the name of the city who will host the International Hockey Federation (FIH) event.
Until now, it is the name Guwahati conducts a round as a venue for the tournament, which will see India defend the trophy he won in 2016.
But lately, Lucknow and now Odisha has thrown their hats.
However, FIH waits to hear from Indian hockey, with the early tournament for only two months.
The edition of the women is scheduled to be held at Potchefstroom, South Africa, from 5 to 16 December.
“The host city of the World Cup Hockey Hockey fish that will be confirmed,” said the FIH Communication Department to Timesofindia.com.
“However, we are in a permanent touch with Indian hockey for this tournament preparation and looking forward to great events.” Guwahati has been driven to third place in the list of three cities in running, the source told TimesOfindia.com without describing the reason.
Another source in Odisha said “there was talk” about the country that hosted the tournament.
(India won the last edition of the Junior River World Cup held in 2016 at Lucknow) Odisha, who extended the Sponsor of the Indian national team to 2032 after the Tokyo Olympics, was the host of the 2023 World Cup also.
The 2018 men’s World Cup was also held at Odisha, at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar.
Lucknow, who hosted the 2016 edition of the Junior World Cup won by India, was also running.
Both cities have infrastructure and hosting experiences of world events.
Recurrent efforts to get official comments from Indian hockey remain futile.
Australia and New Zealand choose out? Timesofindia.com has also learned about the strong possibilities of Australia and New Zealand who pulled out of the Junior World Cup in India (Male) and South Africa (women).
Hockey sources in Australia said it was difficult to see the team traveling in the midst of covid restrictions on the movement.
“The inter-state travel is very limited here, so really can’t see anyone allowed to leave,” the source said.
But officials chose to keep them tight about developments and put the ball in the FHH court.
“I believe FIH will make a press release immediately in terms of the team attending JWC (Junior World Cup),” said Bob Claxton, Secretary General and Treasurer of the Hoki Oceania Federation, when contacted by Timesofinda.com playing Hockey of the Australian Communication Department remained unanswered.