No joint winners in senior Nationals this time: IWHF

New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) Eleven teams, including last year's joint winners Railways and Haryana, will be vying for honours in the 54th Senior Women's National Hockey Championship to be held here from March 23 to 30.

Announcing this today, Indian Women Hockey Federation (IWHF) President Vidya Stokes made it clear that there would be no joint winners this year and regular rules of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) will be applied in case of tied matches.

''There will not be any joint winners this time around. I will be present during the tournament and make sure that no FIH rule is violated. if a match is tied than we will have extra time and then sudden death if required,'' the IWHF President told a press conference here.

IWHF General Seceretary and Delhi Women Hockey Association President, Amrit Bose said the notion that senior players would be missing the tournament due to Commonwealth Games is incorrect.

''As you know, the national team is made entirely of Railways and they have their matches only after March 28 so there is no question of them missing the tournament as they would be back after attending the Commonwealth Games on March 27,'' she said.

Asked if that could be too harsh for the players who would be exhausted after the journey, she said. ''They are used to it and as atheletes they know how to handle situations like these.'' ''They will take the first flight after the closing ceremony in Melbourne and join the championship here,'' Ms Bose said.

Meanwhile, the IWHF has started preperations for the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games and players to be selected for the Games have already been identified.

''We have identified the 2010 player and they are currently training in Bhopal. Next they will go to Japan and would be revealed after the conclusion of Melbourne Games,'' she said.

UNI PM AY BD1811