England likely venue for
US-India play-off

The women's World Cup hockey qualifier between India and the United States, slated to be held in New Delhi next week but thrown into disarray after the latter pulled out citing security concerns, could now be held in England.

FIH, the game's world governing body, is exploring the possibility of staging the play-off series at a suitable venue in England prior to the Commonwealth Games from July 25 to August 4, according to Steve Morris, FIH's Communications manager.

Morris, however, said the decision is left to the two respective federations.

Also, the "delay in resolution of the series will not influence the further preparation of the 10th women's World Cup, to be held in Perth from November 24 to December 8," he said in a statement.

The US team had left Delhi in a hurry last Saturday, saying the US State Department had issued a travel warning, highlighting the escalating threat due to the "risk of intensified military hostilities between India an Pakistan" and urging American citizens who remained in India to consider leaving the country.

The US team, which spent over a fortnight in Delhi, was scheduled to play the series from June 3 to 6.

The Americans had failed to make it to the qualifiers in Paris in last September due to security reasons following the September 11 terrorist attacks and the FIH gave them another chance by asking seventh placed India to play a three-match series.

Earlier report
IWHF shocked by US decision to pull out