IHF to select probables tomorrow in Delhi

Chandigarh, Mar 6 (UNI) The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) selection committee will meet in New Delhi tomorrow to decide the probables for the coaching camps in preparation for India's participation in the forthcoming international competitons.

The first camp will be held in Chandigarh or Bangalore.

IHF secretary general K Jyothikumaran said here today that India would compete in the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament to be held in Ipoh from May 5 to 13. India, Argentina, Australia, China, Malaysia, Pakistan and one more country would take part in the tournament.

The second international assignment is the BDO Hockey Champions Challenge in Boom (Belgium) from June 23 to July 1. Countries to figure in the tournament are India, Argentina, Belgium, England, Japan and New Zealand.

India will be hosting the Asia Cup in Chennai in September.

Mr Jyothikumaran said that the IHF would request the International Hockey Federation to declare the Chennai Asia Cup as a ''ranking tournament.'' Regarding the Indo-Pak hockey series, the IHF secretary general said that the series generates a lot of interest among the spectators in both countries. The money generated through the series is passed to the players and the IHF is holding discussions with its counterparts on the dates, he added.

UNI