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AHF to decide on two-division Junior Asia Cup in five months

The Asian Hockey Federation will make a decision in October whether to have two divisions for the Junior Asia Cup.

AHF coaching and development chairman Fumio Ogura said recently that he has held informal discussions with AHF secretary general Datuk Seri P. Alagendra about the possibility of having a two-tier tournament to encourage more participants.

As it stands now, the minnows are getting a hammering from the big boys and the AHF feel that this does not help in the development of the game.

They feel that if there is a two-division tournament, more teams will come into the fray, as has happened on the senior level.

However it is up to the competitions committee to make the final decision and the matter will be brought up when the AHF council next meet in Kuala Lumpur in five months time.

"I have spoken to Datuk Alagendra as well as several council members and they are serious about having a two-division tournament."

"They feel this will help encourage the development of hockey in the region," said Ogura.

"However, I must stress that nothing is confirmed and it is the competitions committee which will have the final say. We are going to bring up the issue at the next council meeting in Kuala Lumpur in five months time."

Ogura said the AHF also wants to ensure that if there are two divisions, the move will not prevent Asia from having more berths in the Junior World Cup

"We must get confirmation from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) that we will still get four or more places in the Junior World Cup even if they are 10 teams in the first division," he said.

"We must make them understand that we may have a total of 19 teams from both divisions. Europe actually has three divisions so I don't see why we can't follow suit."

Courtsey: www.hockeyasia.com