Dates for Champions Trophy hockey meet announced

New Delhi, Feb 5 (PTI) The Champions Trophy will be heldfrom December 1-11 and the prestigious tournament will befollowed by the men''s and women''s Olympic qualifiers, theInternational Hockey Federation (FIH) stated in a release.

The dates for the tournament, which will be hosted byIndia, were decided upon after FIH president Leandro Negreheld talks with sports minister Ajay Maken and Hockey India(HI) officials earlier this week.

Negre was in the Capital to discuss a number of mattersregarding the apex body''s development projects in India.

He discussed with HI officials the launch of a new FIH -Hockey India Professional League, but a final announcement onthis will be made following FIH''s executive board meeting inMarch.

During his meeting with the sports minister, Negrereaffirmed FIH''s position regarding its recognition of HockeyIndia as the sole governing body for the sport in India, whileMaken vowed to support the development of hockey in thecountry.

"The meeting was very constructive," the FIH stated.

The hosting details of FIH''s four-year programme ofevents in India -- that kicks off with the Champions Trophy --were also discussed.

Following last year�s highly successful World Cup, FIHrecently committed six of its major events to India over afour-year period as a part of its campaign to re-energisehockey in the country.