MUMBAI: The 46th Congress of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) will be held in New Delhi from 30 October to 3 November 2018.
It will be the first FIH Congress under Batra’s leadership after he took over the reins of world hockey from Spaniard Leandro Negre last year, says a PTI report.
The biennial event will run for four days and will comprise meetings, social events, networking opportunities and presentations. The Congress, which will have representations from the National Associations, will also chart out the future roadmap of the game, including the ongoing Hockey Revolution, FIH’s 10-year strategy to drive hockey’s status as a global sport.
The next FIH Congress will hold greater significance as the game is about to witness a transition phase in 2019 with the introduction of the world body’s ambitious Hockey Pro League, a new home-and-away league which is expected to stretch over the first six months of a calendar year.
“Our next Congress will be held in New Delhi from October 30 to November 3. The next Congress is very important for us as hockey will witness transition in 2019. As part of our Hockey Revolution, the Hockey Pro League will start in 2019,” FIH President Narinder Batra told PTI on the sidelines of the ongoing Hockey World League (HWL) Final, here.
A few years back, hockey was in danger of being dropped from the Olympic sport but the FIH chief told PTI the future of the sport is safe and secured. “Hockey is not facing any threat. The future of hockey is safe. In fact, we are witnessing a rise in hockey’s popularity. Hockey has survived and will continue to survive,” Batra said.
India will also host the men’s Hockey World Cup to be held in Bhubneswar from November 28 to December 16 next year.
