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SAIL to Present the Hero Honda FIH World Cup 2010

11/30/2009 - The International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Hockey India announced recently that the Steel Authority of India Ltd. will be the Presenting Partner for the Hero Honda FIH World Cup 2010, to be hosted by India in March 2010.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Hockey India (HI) announced recently that the Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) will be the Presenting Partner for the Hero Honda FIH World Cup 2010, to be hosted by India in March 2010. The event will now be referred to as the Hero Honda FIH World Cup, presented by SAIL.
 
The agreement was signed by FIH Chief Leandro Negre and SAIL Director (Personnel) G. Ojha in the presence of Union Minister for Steel Shri Virbhadra Singh and Union Minister of State Shri A. Sai Prathap at Udyog Bhavan. Among other dignitaries present were Steel Secretary Shri Atul Chaturvedi, SAIL Chairman Shri S.K. Roongta, Hockey India President A.K. Mattoo, and Olympians and former Indian Hockey captains Zafar Iqbal, Ajit Pal Singh, and Jagbir Singh.
 
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that it is a great honor for India to be hosting the Hockey World Cup in 2010 and for SAIL to be the presenting partner of the event, which he hopes "will revive the game in India." He also urged corporate enterprises to come forward to support and promote sporting events as well as sportspersons.
 
“I take great pleasure in welcoming Steel Authority of India to our global hockey family in what is another landmark and globally important sponsorship for the sport,” said Negre. “This event is of immense significance for Indian hockey and indeed for the game worldwide. We have placed in the tournament in India with the sincere hope that it will be a catalyst for the rejuvenation of the game here. In SAIL, hockey has a partner who shares that vision, a partner who is one of the world leaders in their field yet proudly Indian, and a partner who respects this great sport we love, and wants to see it come back strong.”
 
Speaking about the company’s five-decade-long association with the promotion of sports, Roongta said, “At SAIL, we are very pleased to be associated with the apex event in International Hockey. SAIL has a significant legacy in hockey and actually owns and operates one of the country’s premier playing and training facilities, which is equipped with astro-turf, at its Rourkela Steel Plant.”
 
“That we have been able to attract such blue-chip corporate supporters is precisely what the sport of hockey needs in India,” said Mattoo. “This sponsorship will go a long way towards ensuring the delivery of a truly world-class event.”
 
In this 12th edition of the tournament, 12 teams will compete for the prize.
 
Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) is the leading steel-making company in India. It is a fully integrated iron and steel maker, producing both basic and special steels for domestic construction, engineering, power, railway, automotive, and defense industries and for sale in export markets. SAIL manufactures and sells a broad range of steel products, including hot and cold rolled sheets and coils, galvanized sheets, electrical sheets, structurals, railway products, plates, bars and rods, stainless steel, and other alloy steels.
 
The International Hockey Federation (FIH), the world governing body for hockey, is based in Lausanne, Switzerland and was founded in 1924. Currently, 127 national associations are members of the FIH. Hockey is played on all five continents. In 2008, hockey celebrated 100 years as an Olympic sport. FIH has engaged Commune Sports & Entertainment as its exclusive marketing agent in India.