FIH Series Finals | Earlier start for Friday’s morning game to protect players from Bhubaneswar heat
In order to adjust to the prevailing hot weather in Bhubaneswar, the FIH has decided that Friday’s first game in the morning will start at 8 am IST and not at 8:45. The organisers had to allow extra breaks in the game between Uzbekistan and Mexico today morning at the Kalinga Stadium.
With the FIH Series Finals reaching its last phase in Bhubaneswar, the trouble increased for the organisers due to excessive heat in Odisha’s capital. The organisers after discussing with the official broadcasters and other authorities have now decided to reschedule the morning match which will be played on Friday. The match for the fifth-place finish in the tournament will now be played at 8 am IST on June 14 instead of 8:45.
“In order to adjust to the current high temperatures affecting Bhubaneswar and considering that the welfare of athletes, fans, volunteers, officials and everyone involved in an FIH event is paramount, FIH has decided that Friday’s first game – match for 5th place of the FIH Men’s Series Finals Bhubaneswar Odisha 2019 - will start at 8am (IST), instead of 8:45am (IST) as initially planned,” FIH said in a statement.
The world body had to introduce its warm weather policy during the game between Uzbekistan and Mexico which was played earlier today. It was a seventh-eighth position play-off match and extra breaks and longer intervals had to be introduced by the organsiers to adjust to the excessive heat in the eastern part of India.
“During today’s match between Uzbekistan and Mexico, FIH has implemented its warm weather policy. This resulted in the following measures:- An extension of each quarter-break to 4 minutes (instead of 2 minutes usually)- An additional 1-minute break at the half of each quarter of the second half,” the FIH statement read.
Temperatures on a hockey turf go up by around three degrees due to the evaporation from the astroturf which is constantly watered and this creates further difficulties for the players who have to run hard in modern day hockey.
"It's very hot, very tough, very wet (sweaty). But it's for both teams. The umpires made one change (to the playing conditions), adding time for rotations (breaks)," Mexican team doctor, Miguel Ake Montiel told TOI.
"As a doctor, I plan (for the players to be ready) for such weather on the day before the match, in terms of food and hydration, and ice packs during the match. It's not good weather for the game. But thankfully the boys are all good, no injuries.”
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