‘Hockey5s World Cup 2023 host nation decision delayed to June’

India’s Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra was re-elected as president of the FIH, the world hockey governing body, for a second four-year term. He was re-elected at the 47th FIH Congress session, where delegates from all over the world gathered in virtual forum.

Batra defeated Marc Coudron of Belgium by simple majority for a second term. 

Of the 124 votes submitted by national associations, Batra attained the required absolute majority of more than half the votes, receiving 63 votes to the 61 given to Coudron. 

Oman Hockey Association (OHA) chief Talib al Wahaibi, who attended the congress along with senior OHA officials, congratulated Batra on his re-election.

Hockey5s World Cup bid decision delayed 

Wahaibi said that the decision to announce the host nation of Hockey5s World Cup in 2023, which was initially scheduled to be decided at the FIH Congress on Saturday, has been postponed to June.

In his remarks to Muscat Daily on Saturday after attending the FIH meeting, Wahaibi said, “Due to the FIH Congresss agenda being reduced as it was held on a virtual platform, the decision will now be taken next month.” 

He added, “We also have another confirmed host nation in fray from Asia as Pakistan have also thrown their hat in the ring. 

“Besides Oman, India, Singapore, Pakistan in the fourth nation from Asia while South Africa and the Netherlands are the other bidding nations.”

Ikram elected unopposed

In addition to Batra’s re-election, Tayyab Ikram and Erik Cornelissen were re-elected unopposed to the FIH executive board as men’s members. Danae Andrada Barrios and Hazel Kennedy were both re-elected to the FIH executive board as women’s members.