The FIH said it has 'received confirmation from Hockey India' that the country has pulled out of the tournament that is due to launch in January 2019 with matches between the world's best sides being conducted over the weekends for six months every year.
The International Hockey Federation has confirmed India's withdrawal from its ambitious Pro League, one of FIH's flagship tournaments offering Olympic qualifying berths to the top four teams in both men's and women's events. The FIH said it has "received confirmation from Hockey India" that the country has pulled out of the tournament that is due to launch in January 2019 with matches between the world's best sides being conducted over the weekends for six months every year.
"Whilst we regret Hockey India's decision not to be involved in this exciting new global League, we have replacement teams available following an application process which was oversubscribed," the FIH, headed by former Hockey India boss Narendra Batra, said in a statement.
HI's decision can have an impact on the Olympic qualifying hopes of the men's and women's teams as the Pro League is one of FIH's main qualifying tournaments for the Tokyo Games. The top nine men's and women's international teams will play each other on a home-and-away basis every weekend for six months from January to June. The top four teams at the end of the league will be awarded Olympics berth.
As per media reports, India has cited the inferior ranking of the women's team as the reason to withdraw and since there was no option to pull out just one team, India was left with no option but to withdraw from the men's event as well. HI believes India have better chances of qualifying for the Olympics via the Hockey World League.
It is also being speculated in certain circles that the pull out was to do with India captain Sardar Singh being called for questioning by the police in connection with a year-old sexual assault case, during the Hockey World League semi final in London. It may also be noted that last week Hockey India had written to the FIH, raising concerns of match-fixing attempts during the recently held tournament in London.
Meanwhile, on the Pro League, the FIH further said, "Our Event Portfolio Implementation Panel will convene a meeting to discuss the practical implications of a team withdrawal including formally inviting replacement teams to participate in the men's and women's League. "The first Hockey Pro League workshop with all participating nations invited is being held in Lausanne, Switzerland later this month."
Hockey India justifies withdrawal
Justifying their pullout from the International Hockey Federation's Pro League, Hockey India on Sunday said the event does not offer direct qualification to the Olympics and would have been detrimental to the chances of its women's team. The ambitious Pro League, set to kick-start in 2019, will only give the top-four teams in both men's and women's a chance to compete in the Olympic qualifiers, an HI official has claimed.
While the Indian men's team's chances are bright, the eves, currently placed 13th in the world ranking, would have found it tough to finish in the top four. The HI official said instead of the Pro League, both the men's and women's teams have better chances of making the Olympic qualifiers through World League Round 1 and Round 2 which will continue to co-exist with the Pro League from 2019.
"Let us make it clear that the Pro League will not give direct berths to top four teams in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It will only give the top four teams a chance to play in the Olympic qualifies. Our women's team has no chance of qualifying in the top four, so we decided to pull out from the event," said a top HI official.
"We have a better chance through the World League Round 1 and 2 so why to go the other way. Every nation had a chance to withdraw before July 17 failing which the FIH has the authority to impose a 2 year sanction and penalty. So we decided to communicate our decision to them early," he said.
The Pro League is the newest competition in the FIH calendar and is due to be launched in January 2019. The top nine men's and women's international teams will play each other on a home-and-away basis every weekend for six months from January to June. The top four teams at the end of the league will get a chance to play in the Olympic qualifiers for the Tokyo Games.
HI has also cited lack of clarity in the ranking system for the new league and alleged that the world body has an apparent bias towards European sides. "We definitely were one of the strong supporters of the Pro League and vouched for it but it seems the FIH is only interested in giving importance to the European teams. Till date, the FIH is yet to declare the ranking points system as it has not been approved," he said.
Although the men were better-placed to qualify through the Pro League, Hockey India said it had to withdraw both the teams as neglecting the women's team was not in line with the national federation's policy. Incidentally the FIH right now is being headed by an Indian, Narinder Batra, and the pullout can also be looked upon as a ploy by Hockey India to pressurise the world body to change its complex World Cup and Olympic qualification process.
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 "Hockey, hockey india, International Hockey Federation (FIH), India, tokyo, london, lausanne, Switzerland")
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