MUMBAI: As tensions escalate with Pakistan and future international sporting events in India come under a cloud, the biggest and most immediate casualty in an Olympic qualification year is likely to be the Hockey Series Finals in June, one of the qualifying events for the Tokyo Olympics.
There is also the 2019 Commonwealth Championships, planned to be held in Odisha from July 17th to 22nd. If the championships go ahead as planned, it would be the event’s 21st edition and mark a 50-year anniversary; and most notably it would be the seventh time that India plays host.
As far as the Hockey Series finals is concerned, the top two teams from that event will advance to a 14-team, double-headed play-offs with seven qualifying for the 2020 Games, making it crucial for India to host and participate in the eight-team competition that is scheduled to run from June 6-16.
While Hockey India officials refused to comment on the issue, the FIH (International Hockey Federation) remained non-committal on India's hosting rights but did admit it was engaging with the IOC for details.
When qeried on the matter by The Hindu, FIH CEO Thierry Weil said: “We have taken good note of and totally respect the decision of the IOC taken in full compliance with the principles of the Olympic Charter.
“We will engage with the IOC to understand and get clarity on the concrete implications of this decision. Only then will we be able to provide any further comments on FIH events planned in India or for which India is bidding.”
AIBA mulls re-bidding for men's boxing World Championships 2021
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) is considering moving the men's boxing World Championships, scheduled to be held in New Delhi in 2021, out of India after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended all international sports federations to cease holding any 'Olympic-related' events in the country until the entry of athletes from all countries was guaranteed.
“The International Boxing Association (AIBA) fully supports the IOC’s decision and will not allow any AIBA competition (or) activities to take place in India if that excludes any country from competing in the event,” AIBA's communications department told Indian Express.
The world amateur boxing body also hinted at "reopening the bidding process" for the 2021 championship in order to find a new host. The move if it transpires, will be a huge blow to India who are set to host the senior men's event for the first time.
It was the third occasion in the last three months where the Indian government had denied visas to athletes from other nations. In November, Donjeta Sadiku of Kosovo was denied a visa to compete at the New Delhi-held AIBA Women’s World Championship since her country is not officially recognised by the Indian government.
However, it was the refusal to grant visas to Pakistan's three-member shooting team for men's 25m rapid event that triggered IOC's strong stance against India. The world Olympic body, having taken note of the visa denials, directed sports federations not to host any event in the country until guarantees over the participation of all athletes were provided.
Recently, an Asian Snooker tournament that was scheduled to be held in Bengaluru in March was called off after India denied visas to six Pakistani and Pakistan-origin players for the tournament.
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