September 07, 2007	Friday	Sha'aban 24, 1428

KARACHI, Sept 6: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Thursday contradicted reports regarding South Korea’s decision to skip December’s Champions Trophy in Lahore in the wake of recent violence.

An FIH official said that the South Koreans had not intimated the sport’s international body about their reported pull-out from the elite six-nation tournament to be organised from Dec 1 to 9.

The official said although South Korea had not confirmed about their participation or pull-out, they could withdraw any time if they received advisory from their government.

“The official information that FIH received from South Korea is that the team will participate in the Champions Trophy but it is subject to withdrawal at any time if directed by their government in view of any further changes to the situation in Pakistan,” FIH manager communication Arjen Meijer told Dawn from Lausanne.

An international news agency, while quoting South Korea manager Cho Sung Jun, had reported on Wednesday that they have pulled out of the prestigious tournament citing security concerns.

According to the report, the South Koreans took the decision following two suicide bombings on Tuesday that ripped through a military bus and a market near the Pakistan Army headquarters in Rawalpindi, killing 25 people.

The two different versions — first from Cho and second from FIH — have, however, created confusion among the followers and the media as well.

However, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Khalid Mahmood refrained from commenting on the report attributed to South Korean manager, saying the federation would consider FIH’s official information credible.

“As we have not been informed by FIH about South Korea’s pull-out, we believe there is no change in plans. We will take information from the FIH as final and only then we will be able to comment. However, even if South Korea do pull out, the PHF can’t do anything,” said the official.

Australia have already pulled out of the tournament citing security concerns.

There are reports that during the Good Luck Beijing tournament last month, Malaysia offered the participants free local hospitality in case the FIH decided to shift the event from Lahore while India has also expressed willingness to host the tournament.

The FIH is likely to take a decision within a week on shifting of the Trophy from Lahore owing to security fears.