NEW DELHI, April 11 India runs the risk of losing 2010 Hockey World Cup to Malaysia if Indian Olympic Association (IOA) does not put an elected federation in place before the event.

That was the strong message conveyed by Leandro Negre, President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), to IOA`s ad hoc committee running hockey in the country.

“We very much want World Cup to be held in India. But there are certain FIH guidelines which need to be followed. We have asked them to have a unique body (Hockey India, a federation to represent both men`s and women`s hockey in the country) in place before World Cup. It is essential, or else we have a Plan `B` in place. Just in case we need (to), Malaysia is prepared,” Negre said.

“We are here to know the situation, meet our friends and advise them. This is India`s internal matter but we are ready to help them.”

Negre, who is here with an FIH delegation, appeared far from happy with the fact that despite governing the game for almost a year, ad hoc committee has failed to take substantial steps towards forming an elected hockey federation. Ad hoc committee was formed after IOA dissolved KPS Gill-led Indian Hockey Federation. Gill has since moved court against the decision.

Negre`s directive assumes significance in wake of his recent meeting with J.B. Roy, Bengal Hockey Association president and representative of several state units. Roy has pressed for need to have an elected federation in place at the earliest.

Though committee member and IOA secretary general Randhir Singh said a new set-up would be in place in six months, he refrained from elaborating how it would come about with the matter pending in court. It may be possible to constitute Hockey India since the case in Delhi High Court pertains only to the now-defunct IHF.

He said he would love to see Pakistan in action in World Cup in India but was far from forthcoming when asked about FIH`s stand in case the country is not allowed to participate. “We are not political guys, we are hockey players,” Negre, a former Spanish goalkeeper, said.—Agencies