Ten Sports Acquire India Rights to Hockey’s Champions Challenge & Trophy

Sports network Ten Sports has bagged the broadcasting rights for the FIH Champions Challenge and Champions Trophy in India.

FIH Champions Challenge will be played at Johannesburg from 26th November – 4th December 2011. The Champions Challenge is the second major event on the men’s calendar before the 2012 London Olympics. The Champions Challenge features the eight countries ranked from ninth to 16th in the world. Eight teams competing, order in the tournament are India, allergist | Belgium, ed Poland, South Africa, Argentina, Canada, Japan and Malaysia. The tournament will see 24 matches played over six days.

Ten Sports will also be telecasting the FIH Champions Trophy 2011 to be played in Auckland from 3-11 December. Eight of the world’s top men’s teams will be playing in FIH Champions Trophy in Auckland. It is the last major event on the men’s calendar before the 2012 London Olympics. The eight teams competing, in world ranking order are Australia, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Great Britain, Korea, New Zealand and Pakistan. The tournament will see 24 matches played over six days.

Atul Pande, CEO of Ten Sports, said: “We are committed to bringing the best sports action to our viewers, and this new agreement with FIH for telecast of Champions Challenge and Champions Trophy, reaffirms our commitment to grow the sports business and consolidate our position as the leading sports broadcaster.”

Leandro Negre, FIH President, added: “We’re delighted to bring these events to subcontinental audiences via Ten Sports. In particular, Ten Sports’ support has allowed us to fully televise the Champions Challenge in the subcontinent for only the second time in its history.”