ISLAMABAD: The sixth edition of the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup will be staged in Belgium from Feb 3 to 7, 2021, it has been announced.

The global contest will be organised by the Royal Belgian Hockey Association, said a press release issued on Wednesday.

The event awarded to Belgium’s National Association by the FIH Executive Board would see 12 teams competing in the men’s and women’s competitions, all aiming to follow in the footsteps of Austria men and Germany women, who were crowned champions at the 2018 Indoor World Cup event held in Berlin.

Speaking about the decision, FIH chief executive Thierry Weil said: “With its speed, intensity and excitement, indoor hockey is an important and much-loved form of our sport, and I am greatly looking forward to the sixth edition of the Indoor Hockey World Cup.”

“I am very happy that we have been given the chance to organise the prestigious FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup, and I am sure we will be able to stage an event of the highest quality,” said Royal Belgian Hockey Association (RBHA) president Marc Coudron.

Mean’s teams to feature in the 2021 Indoor Hockey World Cup include hosts Belgium, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Russia, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Australia, Iran, Kazakhstan plus champion team of Africa and champion of Pan America.

Women’s outfits participating in the event are: Belg­ium, Belarus, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Germany, Ukraine, Austria, New Zealand, Australia, Kazakhstan, and champion teams from Africa and Pan America.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2020