India not yet out of new hockey world order: Jason McCracken

BHUBANESWAR: India may yet feature in the inaugural edition of the Pro League in 2019 if International Hockey Federation (FIH) CEO Jason McCracken is to be believed. FIH, which has planned to revolutionise the sport through the event that they believe is crucial to further promote the game, woke up on July 9 to firefight after learning that Hockey India (HI) had pulled out of it, citing a lack of clarity.

Back then, it was believed that the door would be shut on India, but McCracken said that wasn’t necessarily the case. Speaking to select members of the media just before the India-England encounter on Saturday, he also said that FIH would be rebranding the World League from as early as next year. Excerpts...

Calendar from 2018

It is going to be a transition year. We have the Indoor World Cup followed by the men’s and women’s World Cup. We have the two Champions Trophies as well as the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina. In 2019, we have another transition year when we will see the beginning of the Pro League. We will also see the replacement for this event (World League Semifinal and Final), which is the Hockey Series. That begins in 2018 and the Hockey Series Finals will be in 2019. It has been agreed on by all the stakeholders.

Hockey Series

This is the Final of the World League as we know it now. Just to recap, the World League has four levels: 1, 2, 3, and 4. That’s been replaced by a two-level event, the Hockey Series Open, and that begins next year.

It is open to all national federations, and 70 associations have applied so far. The winners of that will go to three finals, and that will be played in 2019 (Hockey Series Finals).

The winners (first and second) of that will go to the qualifying event of the Olympics. The teams which have won the right to be part of the Pro League will not be part of this event. That is separate.  

India’s status in Pro League

FIH will be delighted to have India. In the future when the time is right, I hope they will be joining us. Because hockey is stronger when India is there. When the time is right... we are always talking to them.

Whether they can join now if they have a change of heart

The door is open now (to play in the 2019 edition if HI is open to changing their stance). There will be some challenges with respect to our schedule. There are 144 matches all over the world. We may have to adjust the schedule. But there is a process to join the league.

On ensuring 11-a-side hockey remains in Olympics

We have got 11-a-side confirmed strongly for 2024. We are in discussions about the programme for Los Angeles (2028). The whole programme for it hasn’t been confirmed, but we have made significant progress since 2012 (after the London Games, hockey faced the prospect of being chalked off because it was ranking poorly on International Olympic Committee (IOC) metrics that were used to decide what sports to remove from future Summer Games). We have been working very closely with IOC, and I’m pleased to say that our reputation is increasing.

On contract scenario with main TV partner, Star Sports

Star has signed on for another four years, but only for the India region. For 2018, Star continues to be our main broadcast partner. For 2019 and beyond, we will have other broadcasters outside of India.

Looking ahead:

FIH’s existing blue-riband competitions: World Cup, Champions Trophy, World League, Olympics

FIH’s upcoming competitions: Pro League (from 2019), Hockey Series (from 2018)

Competitions to be scrapped: Champions Trophy (last edition next year in Netherlands)

Competitions to be rebranded: World League is becoming Hockey Series, but not open for teams taking part in Pro League

swaroop@newindianexpress.com