NEW DELHI, 19 November 2005 — Field hockey’s leading stars will play a benefit match in India next month to raise funds for victims of the devastating earthquake in South Asia in October, the sport’s governing body announced yesterday.
At least 73,000 people were killed in Pakistan and another 1,300 in India when one of the deadliest tremors in recent history struck the Kashmir valley on Oct. 8.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) said the match will be played in the southern Indian city of Chennai on Dec. 8, two days before the Champions Trophy tournament opens there.
The format of the match is still being finalized, but the FIH said all six Champions Trophy teams — Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Pakistan and India — had agreed to release players for the fund-raiser.
FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman said she had requested the United Nations to support the match. “The global hockey community has felt the pain of this terrible tragedy and this is our way of helping two of our most important member nations,” Els said in statement. “Hockey has always been an expression of Pakistan and India’s dynamic and energetic culture, and with cooperation between all parties and the patronage provided by the International Olympic Committee and the UN, this benefit match will be a great success.” The match will be televised live across Asia, the FIH said.
