India has made a U-turn on its decision to pull out its hockey teams from the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
A Commonwealth Games official told Indian media on Saturday that India men and women would partake in next summer’s event “if they qualify”.
Given that qualification consists of world ranking and both India teams well placed, they will likely take up a place when the list is set in February.
Hockey India’s decision to withdraw came a day after England Hockey withdrew from the upcoming Men’s Junior World Cup in India.
It was also based on the fact that there are 30-odd days from the end of the Commonwealth Games to the start of the Asian Games in China, which counts as an Olympic qualifier.
“No team has been offered a place yet but the IOA have said to CGF President they (IOA) will accept if the teams qualify which is highly likely,” a CGF official told Indian press agency PTI.
Birmingham 2022 director of sport Matt Kidson had said last month: “It’s their choice and it’s very rare for a team of that size not to come to a Games like this, so I am personally very hopeful.”
Good news.