Men's hockey Asia Cup set for May-end start, three venues in race to host

men's hockey Asia Cup, which is also a qualifying event for the World Cup, is expected to be held towards the end of May this year, with a three-way race between venues to host the tournament. "We have zeroed in on May-end as the window for the men's Asia Cup," Asian Hockey Federation's (AFH) chief executive Tayyab Ikram told TimesofIndia.com over the phone. Teams finishing in the top four at Asia Cup also qualify for the 2023 World Cup, which is scheduled for next January in Odisha. It will be held at two venues -- Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. TimesofIndia.com has learnt that the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur is the frontrunner in the race to play host. However, Ikram refused to confirm anything except the fact that there are three countries that have offered to host the tournament "Three countries are interested (to host), but it would not be fair to comment on this further...The pandemic situation also keeps changing...but we hope to make an official announcement in the coming couple of weeks," he added during his brief conversation with TimesofIndia.com. Narinder Batra 'concerned' with India's performanceNarinder Batra, the president of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Indian Olympic Association, has written to the president of Hockey India (HI), expressing "serious concerns over the way the Indian men's hockey team has performed after the Tokyo (Olympics) bronze medal finish in Bangladesh and in South Africa".

(India's Amit Rohidas in action against France in the Pro League - Photo: Hockey India)India had to settle for a bronze medal in the Asian Champions Trophy held in Dhaka, while the team's 2-5 loss to France in the Pro League away leg in Potchefstroom raised many eyebrows. "The way the team is