India to host men's Hockey World Cup in 2018

New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS) India will be hosting the men’s Hockey World Cup for the third time in 2018, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said.

India first hosted the showpiece event in 1982 in Bombay where Pakistan emerged as the champion. The 2010 World Cup was also hosted by India as a part of test events for the Commonwealth Games and it was won by Australia.

While Hockey India (HI) won the bid for the men’s tournament, the women’s event went to England in a glittering ceremony at the Beau Rivage Hotel in Lausanne Thursday evening.

The women’s tournament in England is scheduled to take place from July 7-21 in 2018 and men’s event will be held later that year, Dec 1-16.

“I wish to offer my sincere congratulations to England Hockey and Hockey India on their successful bids to host the Hockey World Cups 2018,” said FIH president Leandro Negre.

“The quality of both bids was truly extraordinary, and the FIH is greatly looking forward to bringing its top properties to England and India. I would also like to congratulate all of the National Associations that submitted bids for these events. The standard was exceptionally high, making the decision extremely hard for the FIH Executive Board,” he added.

Alongside the Olympic Games, the Hockey World Cups are the most coveted tournaments. Held every four years, they bring together the world’s greatest teams and most skilful players for the toughest, most competitive international hockey event imaginable.

Both the men’s and women’s Hockey World Cups will feature an increased 16-nation field of participants.

Next year’s hugely anticipated Rabobank Hockey World Cup, which takes place in The Hague, Netherlands during the first two weeks of June, will see 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams competing in a mammoth double event.

“The decision certainly was not an easy one to make. All of the bids that we received were exceptional, being completely in line with our strategy to deliver the most entertaining, exciting and inspiring hockey events in the world. The FIH Executive Board were hugely impressed by the bids from England Hockey and Hockey India,” said FIH Chief Executive Officer Kelly Fairweather.

The FIH has been meticulous in its approach to choosing the hosts for the 2018 showpiece events. As part of the bidding process, the FIH requested that bid questionnaires were submitted before a deadline of Aug 31.

The second phase of the process saw each bid evaluated in detail, as well as further discussions, clarifications, site visits and negotiations taking place with the respective National Associations.

The final decision was made by the FIH Executive Board in Lausanne Thursday, bringing the process to an end by naming England and India as the host nations of hockey’s top properties.