A new pitch and lighting system has been installed at the venue for the men’s Sahara Hockey Champions Trophy in Chennai later this year.

FIH Marketing Representative Arjen Rahusen visited Chennai last week to inspect the competition venue and hold discussions with the host organisers prior to the tournament between 10-18 December.

SDAT Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium has undergone significant improvements in preparation for the tournament, with a new Polytan pitch installed in March and a new lighting system (1200 lux) now in place.

The new lighting system will allow all matches during the tournament to be played in the late afternoon and evening.

The tournament will be contested between the six top teams in the world, with reigning title holder Spain and Olympic champions Australia headlining the 27th staging of the yearly tournament.

Chennai (Madras) has held the men’s Champions Trophy on one previous occasion, with Netherlands finishing ahead of Pakistan and Germany.

The logo for the event will be announced early next month.