Indian hockey teams unlikely to compete in CWG: IOA chief Batra

Photo for representational purpose. Picture Courtesy/iStock

The Indian hockey teams are unlikely to participate in next year's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham to ensure that they hit peak form during the Asian Games, which is a qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Indian Olympic Association President Narinder Batra said on Friday.

Batra said he has conveyed this to SAI Director General Sandip Pradhan during a formal meeting here. Batra, who is the chief of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), said the Indian hockey teams' priority is to achieve their peak at the Asian Games, which starts just 35 days after the CWG.

The Birmingham CWG is scheduled to be held from July 28 to August 8, while the Asian Games will be hosted by Hangzhou, China from September 10 to 15. "Based on my preliminary discussions with Hockey India, it seems doubtful as of now whether Indian men and women hockey team's will participate in Commonwealth Games 2022," said Batra.

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