A seventh place finish in the Athens Olympics was certainly not enough for India to earn a berth in this year's Champions Trophy hockey, but the side could still make it to the elite six-nation meet -- albeit by default.
The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) officials are keeping their fingers crossed about the country's chances as two of the six teams in fray, Australia and New Zealand, are contemplating pulling out of the December 4-12 competition, to be held in Lahore, on security grounds.
Hockey Australia Chief Executive Lyndon Adamson reportedly said that he had asked tournament organisers for details of their security plans after their government last month renewed its warning for Australians to avoid all non-essential travel to Pakistan because of possible terrorist attacks.
Similarly, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Hockey Federation, Ramesh Patel, has said that NZHF would contact its Australian counterpart, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) before taking a decision on whether to proceed to Lahore.
But IHF officials were not ready to comment anything on the developments even though they admitted that if any one of the teams pulled out, it would help India's cause.
"We have no information about any such development. So it would not be appropriate on our part to comment anything on the issue," IHF sources said on Sunday.
"But, of course, India will have a chance if any of the teams pull out," they added.
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