Pakistani field hockey player Shakeel Abbasi, "who was kicked out of the national training camp for fasting," has requested that the Int'l Hockey Federation (FIH) avoid organizing major tournaments around the holy month of Ramadan. Abbasi: "There are no major hockey or cricket tournaments during Christmas, similarly they should keep Ramadan in mind while finalizing the annual calendar" (PTI, 7/25). ... The India Sports Ministry has asked the Sports Authority of India and National Sports Federations to "curb the tendency amongst sportspersons for giving preference to playing in prize money tournaments rather in tournaments where India participates for medals rather than cash awards" (PTI, 7/25). ... Some Hockey India League teams are worried about missing the services of their top Dutch field hockey players, "as their national commitments could force the players to skip the league." A team official said that "they have received letters from some of their players saying they have been told by the Netherlands chief coach to skip the tournament and concentrate on the preparations for the World Cup," which is to be held four months after the HIL (TIMES OF INDIA, 7/25). ... The El Salvador Football Federation said that it "will request a meeting" with captain Victor Turcios following comments he made to ESPN Deportes Sunday alleging match-fixing in his country (ESPN, 7/24).
