England Hockey performance director David Faulkner said on Tuesday it was still the team's intention to compete at the upcoming World Cup in India despite last weeekend's terror attack in Pune "At present there's no intelligence to tell us we shouldn't be going," he insisted. We're very pleased with the work the (British) High Commission has done on the ground."
An Italian and an Iranian were among the nine people killed in a bomb attack at a restaurant in the western Indian city on Saturday while 12 foreigners were among the 60 people injured in the blast. Faulkner is still waiting to receive a plan for security at the team hotel and transportation during the two-week tournament from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) but hopes to have the details by this weekend. "Hopefully by the weekend we will have all the necessary details and planning to hand.
Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to advise that a "high general threat from terrorism" exists throughout India. However, Faulkner said: "We're aware of the Pune attack and we'll continue to monitor things through the High Commission. Faulkner, 46, a member of Great Britain's gold medal-winning squad at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, believes reigning European champions England should not underestimate the challenge from sub-continental sides. England may be ranked below group rivals Australia and Spain at fifth in the global standings but Faulkner warned his team to expect a strong challenge from fellow Group B sides India (12th) and Pakistan (seventh).
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