Teams such as those of Pakistan and India still have incredible hockey skills and are playing steady games on the turf as well.' -Photo by Reuters

ISLAMABAD With hockey on a decline in the Asian region, International Hockey Federation (FIH) President Leandro Negre on Wednesday hinted on a resuscitated effort for the hockey teams of Asia. He also said that a 'wild card entry' will be considered for the elite hockey Champions Trophy event in the future.

'I was personally pushing to give wild cards to Pakistan and India for the Champions Trophy but didn't have much success in doing so. I fell a little late in my efforts as a decision had already been finalised by our working group,' he said.

'But wild card entries will be allowed in the future,' Mr Leandro added while addressing a press conference here at the Pakistan Sports Complex. The elite six-nation hockey Champions Trophy tournament involving hosts Australia, England, Germany, South Korea, the Netherlands and Spain is scheduled to be held in Melbourne, Australia, from Nov 28 to Dec 6.

'We are trying to increase the number of participants in the Champions Trophy,' said Mr Leandro, an ex-Olympian and a former Spanish goalkeeper.

When asked if the introduction of Astroturf by the European countries had restricted the growth of hockey in Asia, the FIH president asserted 'Introducing artificial turfs for hockey is a fantastic step forward. There were some very important studies conducted on playing on turfs. Teams such as those of Pakistan and India still have incredible hockey skills and are playing steady games on the turf as well.'

The FIH president added that they would also help Asian countries lay new artificial turfs.

Meanwhile, European Hockey Federation's (FEH) General Secretary David Balbirnie, told Dawn 'Field hockey is very much alive in the world and events such the Olympics, the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup still attract big crowds.'

To a mention about installing and managing new artificial turfs being a costly affair in this part of the world, Mr Balbirnie, said 'There are also sand-dressed pitches, which can be managed easily and don't consume much water, too.'

Regarding the development of the game in the world, the FIH president noted that they were considering different approaches for different countries and to run and promote hockey from the FIH headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, was impossible.

'We have to give more confidence to the continental federations — Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceana, America and Europe — to play a more vital role in the development of hockey,' he said.

For the developing hockey in the world, Mr Leandro added 'Asia has tremendous potential to lift hockey while Africa still remained a tough challenge as the infrastructure required for the development of the game simply did not exist.'

Meanwhile, Federal Sports Minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani speaking on the occasion termed the visit of the hockey official as a positive step for the return of international sports in Pakistan.

The minister said 'We are going through a sports depression here and they [FIH officials] have come here to take us out of it. It is an opportunity for us to let the world know that Pakistan is a place to play just like the other countries.'