India-US women's hockey qualifier in Belgium

India have agreed to play the women's World Cup qualifying hockey series against the United States in Belgium, setting at rest all speculation on the venue for the jinxed Test series.

"We have agreed to play the three-match Test series against the United States in Belgium, a venue proposed by the International Hockey Federation in a fax received by us this morning," IWHF secretary Amrit Bose said on Friday.

However, Bose said the IWHF has expressed apprehension about the weather conditions in Belgium in April, when the tie is scheduled to be held to determine the last qualifier for the World Cup, to be held in Perth from November 26 to December 8.

"It is going to be very chilly in April in Belgium. So we have asked them to consider on the dates," Bose said.

"However, we hardly have any option.... The US team has refused to play in India due to security concerns," she said.

The qualifying play-off between the two countries has been jinxed right from the start, when the US skipped the qualifiers in Amiens, France, following the September 11 attacks.

Seven qualifying berths were at stake but only six were decided and India, as the seventh placed team, was asked to play against the US to determine the last qualifier.

India had suggested New Delhi as the venue, but the US refused to travel to India. The world body then asked India to play the matches in South Africa after the six-nation Champions Challenge, but India refused, saying it could not compete in successive tournaments without any break.