India get berth in hockey Champions Trophy

New Delhi, July 20 (IANS) India, who were stripped as last year's Champions Trophy host, have surprisingly been given a slot in this year's tournament as the International Hockey Federation (FIH) decided to increase the number of participating teams from six to eight.

The Champions Trophy will be held in Melbourne Dec 1-9 at the State Netball Hockey Centre, the same venue that also hosted 2009 edition as well.

Besides hosts Australia and India, the other participating teams are Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Two teams are yet to be decided.

India last played Champions Trophy in 2005 as the hosts in Chennai when they finished 5th. They were also set to host last year, but FIH stripped India as the host due to the problematic governance of the sport.

The Champions Trophy will be the first major international men's event after the London Olympic Games. The 2012 edition is also the last annual tournament as it will now be made a biennial event due to the impeding introduction of the FIH World League scheduled for 2013.