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NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 24:
 

International Hockey Federation official Bob Davidzon at a press meet in Chennai yesterday. IHF secretary general K Jothikumaran is also present.

        Allotment of the 2010 World Cup to India would give a big boost to revival of Indian hockey, according to International Hockey Federation expert and Project Leader for International Olympic Committee's Promotion of Indian Hockey Programme Bob Davidzon.

        'The World Cup will be a big boost to Indian hockey. It will bring in advertisers,' Davidzon, on a visit to the city to interact with government and hockey officials and inspect the facilities, told reporters yesterday.

        Davidzon, who has submitted a report to the FIH outlining 14 major problem areas in Indian hockey, expressed satisfaction with the response to his suggestions. 'It is really moving.

        But there is no timeframe for implementation of the report. Things can be turned around in five years,' he said. On promoting hockey at the grassroot level, he said senior international players should play at club level to generate interest at the grassroot levels. Now Indian players compete in tournaments, go back to camps and then again to tournaments, he pointed out.

        Davidzon, a former international umpire from the Netherlands, pointed out that in Europe it was mandatory for national players to play for clubs.

        On his third visit to India, Davidzon was in Mumbai on Sunday. He said he would meet players attending the camp in Bangalore for the Azlan Shah tournament today.

        He would also visit Chandigarh and Jalandhar. IHF secretary general K Jothikumaran, who was also present, said Davidzon's suggestions were being implemented and added that the Federation website would be revived very soon.