The 12th hockey World Cup goes on stage on Sunday amidst unimaginable security, organisational glitches and misgivings about the Indian team's performance.
“It is like a circus,” commented an exasperated official of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Friday. Compelled as he was to literally run from pillar to post not knowing who is responsible for what, with too many power centres hovering, he nevertheless was optimistic that the hockey on view would be soothing to the nerves.
There is more anguish than anger in the higher echelons of the FIH over the necessity to conduct the greatest show in the sport ringed by layers of armed, machine gun-toting security personnel. This is an enduring curse of modern sport. Hockey is no exception.
The pools: Pool A: Argentina, Canada, Germany, Korea, The Netherlands, New Zealand. Pool B: Australia, England, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Spain.
Sunday's matches: Spain vs. South Africa (4.35 p.m.); Australia vs. England (6.35 p.m.); India vs. Pakistan (8.35 p.m.).
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