Delhi’s traffic frightens Kiwi hockey team

WELLINGTON - They came fearing terror attacks. But the New Zealand hockey team says it is happy with security steps for the World Cup. It is Delhi’s unruly traffic that is giving the team the jitters.

Like all other teams taking part in the 12-nation tournament, the New Zealanders have been commuting from Le Meridien hotel in the heart of the Indian capital to the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium two kilometers away.

That two-way journey in Delhi is proving to be harrowing, almost frightening, according to Kevin Marr, manager of the hockey team from New Zealand, a country known for its road discipline.

Marr told the New Zealand Herald from New Delhi that the team was amazed that their bus hardly got any “exclusion zone” while on the move, notwithstanding the visible police presence.

“Indian traffic being what it is, it’s proving quite difficult for them to create a little bit of an exclusion zone around the vehicles themselves,” Marr told the daily.

“It doesn’t matter how many sirens and guys you’ve got waving arms, they largely just ignore it. And if there’s a gap between you and another vehicle, they’re quite happy to take it,” he said.

In contrast, he said he was satisfied with the security provided by Indian authorities.

“The hotel itself has tremendous security, so the players are very much at ease within the hotel environment. We’ve only been to the grounds once, and there was certainly very evident security there,” Marr added.

Al Qaeda’s Pakistan arm last week warned of attacks in India, particularly targeting upcoming international sports events like the Commonwealth Games, the hockey World Cup and the IPL cricket.

The hockey World Cup begins Feb 28. It ends March 13.