Sahara India Pariwar, sponsor of the Indian cricket and senior and junior hockey teams, has joined hands with Federation Internationale de Hockey (FIH), the world apex body for hockey, to become its fourth global partner.

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In a three-year deal, expected to be finalized by this month-end, Sahara India Pariwar will join FIH's three global partners, BDO International, Rabobank and Samsung.

As Global Partner of FIH, the company will get title rights and branding opportunities at major FIH tournaments, up to and including the men's and women's World Cup in 2006.

Managing Worker and Chairman of Sahara India Pariwar, Shri Subrata Roy Sahara said, "Hockey is the national game of India. We would do everything possible within our parameters to bring back the lost glory of this game, within our nation as well as internationally. We want to see the national game of India prospering worldwide. This significant deal with FIH will not only help us promote hockey as a game globally but will also go a long way in promoting Indian Hockey globally. This is a very positive step towards a brighter future of hockey."

Henk Westerlaken, director of Global Hockey Partnership, commented, "I am delighted that the initial success of the Global Hockey Partnership has been capitalized upon by the consortium reaching full strength. I look forward to welcoming Sahara personally and to working with them to assist hockey's promotion and worldwide development."

FIH President, Els van Breda Vriesman, lauded the involvement Sahara.

"This is another huge step for the promotion of world hockey. Sahara India Pariwar's involvement as a Global Partner demonstrates hockey's ability to attract the backing of major multi-national organisations throughout the hockey world. Coupled with the resurgent enthusiasm in Indian hockey, with their qualification at Madrid to the Athens Olympics, the addition of a major Indian corporation to the hockey's Global Partnership can only strengthen hockey's renaissance in India," she said.

Established with founder members BDO International and Rabobank at the beginning of 2003, the Global Hockey partnership began as a sponsorship consortium of up to four partners. Samsung joined the partnership in August last year and with Sahara, the consortium has now reached its maximum number of places for its first term of 2003-2006. The Global Hockey Partnership has enabled FIH to develop a central, global sponsorship of major hockey events for the first time in its history.

Revenue from the Global Partners sponsorship will directly benefit host organisers of FIH's major events and will also be used by FIH to improve the events quality and profile, by enhancing spectator facilities, TV production and youth activities.