LAHORE, May 13: International Hockey Federation (FIH), has confirmed December 17-22 as the dates for the inaugural 5-Nation tournament at Lahore, announced Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Monday.

PHF has extended invitation to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and India for the event which is being organised to strengthen interaction between Asian countries for the revival of Asian style of the game.

“PHF has confirmed the dates and the tournament will go ahead as per schedule,” said Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan, Secretary, PHF while talking to the media.

The start of a high profile tournament among Asian countries is the brain child of the PHF which floated this idea to the Asian Hockey Federation which sent it to games ruling body which finally approved it.

He said so far Malaysia has confirmed its participation in the 6-day event and expressed the hope the remaining teams will also be sending their confirmations soon.

Secretary PHF observed that there was less competitive hockey among the Asian countries which has overall upset the progress of the Asian style and even most of the top Asian hockey Nations have switched over to European style and hiring European coaches.

“In that process hockey in Asia has suffered badly in the present scenario most of the Asian countries are keen to play in Europe because there is less activity in Asia,” he said.

He said the 5-nation tournament will not only help promoting Asian style but will also create opportunities to blend the Asian style with European style.

“I do not say that we should confine ourselves to Asian style, we must have proficiency in the European style too, in order to play versatile hockey,” he said.

Murassat said the tournament will be held annually on rotational basis among the participating countries.

He said if such tournaments are organised regularly, hockey in Asia will further flourish and and its standard will be raised.—APP