India vs Pakistan Hockey World Cup 2010

India vs Pakistan Hockey World Cup 2010

Clash Of Rivals !!!

12th edition of Men's Hero Honda Hockey World Cup, 2010 will start on Sunday, when India play Pakistan in a blockbuster on the opening day of the two-week tournament. The India vs Pakistan match will begin at 20.35 hrs IST. The first two pool matches are between South Africa and Spain, and Australia and England. The 12 nation event includes 30 matches to be played among the teams.

Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, the team Hotel Le Meridian, and nearby areas turned into a fortress on Saturday, on the eve of the India-Pakistan inaugural tie in the Hockey World Cup. Delhi Police has been given 10 companies of central paramilitary forces and 200 commandos, who would be placed at strategic locations at the stadium.

The media, which was allowed to enter the stadium just two days ago, is being frisked at multiple points and is being escorted to the pitch. Even the media is not being allowed access to the hotels lobby to interact with the teams.

Metal detectors and bomb disposal squads are dotting the entry-exit points.

All teams have arrived here despite their initial apprehensions regarding security after the Indian government assured them of full-fledged protection following threats from Al Qaeda.

While the players are being covered by the Delhi Police's security cell, the local police and commandos of the elite National Security Guard (NSG), as well as other paramilitary forces are guarding the stadium. 10,000 Delhi Police personnel would be on duty.

Armed policemen will escort the players when they move to and from the stadium, which is located in the heart of the city. Two-three armed officers will also travel with the players in their buses.

Tickets to tonight's India-Pakistan game have been sold out and the expected crowd capacity is 17,000 spectators.

Today Pakistan captain Zeeshan Ashraf is also celebrating his birthday. He wants a special birthday gift on Sunday from his team. The Indian team led by Rajpal Singh, are desperate to deny him that.

The teams have been grouped into two pools. The world Cup concludes on March 13.

Hero Honda FIH (International Hockey Federation) World Cup 2010 Groups:

Pool A: Germany, Netherlands, Korea, New Zealand, Canada, Argentina

Pool B: Australia, Spain, England, Pakistan, India, South Africa

Sunday February 28: 16:35 Pool B South Africa vs Spain 18:35 B Australia vs England 20:35 B India vs Pakistan	Monday March 1: 16:35 A New Zealand vs Canada 18:35 A Germany vs Korea 20:35 A Netherlands vs Argentina
Tuesday March 2: 16:35 B South Africa vs England 18:35 B Pakistan vs Spain 20:35 B India vs Australia	Wednesday March 3: 16:35 A Canada vs Germany 18:35 A Argentina vs Korea 20:35 A New Zealand vs Netherlands
Thursday March 4: 16:35 B South Africa vs Australia 18:35 B England vs Pakistan 20:35 B India vs Spain	Friday March 5: 16:35 A Korea vs New Zealand 18:35 A Netherlands vs Canada 20:35 A Germany vs Argentina
Saturday March 6: 16:35 B Australia vs Spain 18:35 B South Africa vs Pakistan 20:35 B India vs England	Sunday March 7: 16:35 A Korea vs Canada 18:35 A New Zealand vs Argentina 20:35 A Germany vs Netherlands
Monday March 8: 16:35 B Spain vs England 18:35 B Australia vs Pakistan 20:35 B India vs South Africa	Tuesday March 9: 16:35 A Germany vs New Zealand 18:35 A Netherlands vs Korea 20:35 A Canada vs Argentina
Wednesday March 10: Rest Day.	Thursday March 11: 15:35 Classification.11-12 6th Pool A vs 6th Pool B 18:05 Semi-final 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B 20:35 Semi-final 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A
Friday March 12: 15:35 Classification 9-10 5th Pool A vs 5th Pool B 18:05 Classification 7-8 4th Pool A vs 4th Pool B 20:35 Classification 5-6 3rd Pool A vs 3rd Pool B.	Saturday March 13: 15:35 Bronze medal match 18:05 Final