Argentina, Belgium, India, Japan, Malaysia and South Africa will contest the first Champions Challenge, which will be a bi-annual event, with the winner promoted to next year’s Champions Trophy to be held in August in Cologne, Germany.
The dates have been adjusted one day later than originally scheduled at the request of the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF).
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Indian Hockey Confederation (IHC) had mutually agreed to withdraw the event from New Delhi, India, as it was clear that only a few of the participating nations were able to travel to India under the current political circumstances.
Peter Cohen, FIH honorary secretary general said: “Again the FIH has been required to respond quickly to challenging international political circumstances and we have again been fortunate to be able to call upon the services of a major hockey event organising nation as a stand-in host.
“The Champions Challenge is an important event to broaden hockey’s competitive base at world level and we are reassured that the Malaysian Hockey Federation will set a high standard of organisation at the inaugural event.”
The FIH is continuing its investigations into the relocation and rescheduling of the 1st Women’s Champions Challenge, which was also scheduled to take place in New Delhi from December 8-16.
