Mumbai: Satinder Kumar and Raghu Prasad are
the two Indian umpires who would officiate in the 12-nation
Hero Honda FIH Hockey World Cup to be held at New Delhi`s
National Stadium in February-March 2010.
Kumar and Prasad are among 16 umpires nominated by the
world governing body for hockey in the February 28-March 13
tournament to be jointly organised by the International Hockey
Federation (FIH), Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Hockey
India, a tournament news letter said.
The umpires list: David Gentles (Australia), Amarjit
Singh (Malaysia), Tim Pullman (Australia), Roal Van Eert
(Netherlands), Hamish Jamson (England), Simon Taylor (New
Zealand), Christian Blasch (Germany), Ged Curran (Scotland),
Satinder Kumar (India), Andy Mair (Scotland), Raghu Prasad
(India), Gary Simmonds (South Africa), Colin Hutchinson
(Ireland), John Wright (South Africa), Hong Lae Kim (Korea)
and Marcello Servetto (Spain).
The champions of the five confederations - Australia,
Korea, Canada, South Africa, England - as well as three other
squads from Europe - two-time defending champions and world`s
nuber one team Germany, Netherlands and Spain - and Argentina
qualified automatically along with host nation India.
Australia, current Champions Trophy holders, are ranked
second and finished runners up to Germany, bidding for a Cup
hat-trick, in the last two World Cups.
Spain, runners-up to Germany in the Beijing Olympics,
have carried on with their 100 per cent record in qualifying
for the championships.
Following the same pattern are European
giants Netherlands, who have lifted the trophy three times.
Korea, the highest ranked Asian country (5th), have made
it to the last four in the previous two editions, and reigning
European champions England make up the top six in the world
rankings.
Record four-time World Champions Pakistan have qualified
defeating Japan in the World Cup qualifiers in Lille, France
along with New Zealand, who beat Malaysia in the final at the
second qualifiers played at home.
Eight-time Olympic champions India, who have won the
World Cup only once in 1975 at Kuala Lumpur on natural grass,
would be trying to repeat the feat in the tournament which is
being hosted for only the second time in the country, the
first being at Mumbai`s Wankhede Stadium in 1981.
Pan American Champions Canada will be competing for the
fourth time and African continent victors South Africa will be
in their third consecutive World Cup.
Argentina booked the twelfth and final spot for the
prestigious tournament with a hard-fought victory over Belgium
in Quilmes in the third World Cup qualifier.
PTI