Hockey World Cup - Bhubaneswar

The 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup is the 14th edition of the Hockey World Cup field hockey tournament which is being held from 28 November to 16 December 2018, at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India. Due to the increase to 16 participating teams, the International Hockey Federation had announced the new qualification process in July 2015. The 16 teams were drawn into four groups, each containing four teams. Each team plays each other team in its group once. The first-placed team in each group advances to the quarter-finals, while the second- and third-placed teams in each group go into the crossover matches.

India had qualified both as host and continental champion, therefore that quota was given to China as the highest-ranked team from the 2016–17 Hockey World League Semifinals not already qualified. A big controversy had overturned a day before India's quarterfinal match in the Bhubaneswar. Hockey India has believed that the players who were brought to the VIP lounge were being shouted as the players were not allowed to go there. This is considered as a violation of rules that can lead to suspension of the player. According to Hockey India, during the entire tournament, players were never shouted and that they are not allowed to come to these areas. The coach and FIH had also given a warning twice. This match took place during the cross-over match between the Netherlands and Canada in the Hockey World Cup on Tuesday where the Netherlands beat Canada 5-0 in this match. Now between India and the Netherlands, quarter-final bout will be played on Thursday. According to the tournament guidelines, the protocol is that players cannot go into VIP lounges. Many questions were being raised about it and Hockey India told us that the motive behind this was that those who have brought the players in the VIP area know that it is against the rules and its effect can be far away. There will be a press conference on this issue from Hockey India, which will include some Indian players who will give the full details of the incident. On Tuesday, the Indian coach Harendra Singh and some players went to watch the match played between the Netherlands and Canada at the stadium which was as scheduled to play the hosts in the quarterfinals. Hockey India has told TimesofIndia.com that the intention was to let the people who brought the players into the VIP area, know that this was not in favour of the rules.

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/hockey-world-cup/hockey-world-cup-hockey-india-official-explains-outburst-says-players-were-not-yelled-at/articleshow/67057407.cms