NEW DELHI, Oct 30: Malaysia has taken over the hosting of next month’s men’s Champions Challenge international hockey tournament from India because of security concerns, an Indian hockey official said on Tuesday.

The event will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the original dates of November 7 to 11, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) secretary, K. Jothikumaran told Reuters on Tuesday after being informed by the Malaysian federation secretary.

The Federation of International Hockey (FIH), hockey’s world governing body, recently moved the men’s and women’s events planned for New Delhi because many teams had raised security concerns after last month’s attacks in the United States and the U.S.-led strikes on Afghanistan.

The venue for the women’s event has not yet been decided, but is expected to be held in a southeast Asian country, added Jothikumaran.

Canada, Argentina, Spain, Poland, India, South Africa, Japan and Malaysia will compete in the men’s tournament.

The winning side qualify for next year’s elite Champions trophy tournament.—Reuters