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The Commonwealth Games will not be the only high-profile sporting event to be held in New Delhi in 2010.

Indian hockey's performance on the field may not exactly be shining too brightly at the moment, but that has not stopped the Indian Hockey Federation from hosting the biggest event in the sport.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH), in its recent executive committee meeting, has allotted the men's World Cup for 2010 to India. And the IHF has decided to hold the prestigious quadrennial event at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium in the Capital.

"The decision has been officially communicated by the FIH after careful consideration of India's bid document. The event will be hosted in the month of February," IHF secretary K Jothikumaran said.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Indian Olympic Association and the Sports Authority of India are all backing the Indian bid. The National Stadium, already in-line for a complete refurbishing for the Commonwealth Games, will see the two existing astro-turfs being replaced and a third turf being added.

"The venue will be ready in time. Three pitches will be there in the National Stadium and all facilities will be in place. The remodelling will start shortly," IHF president KPS Gill said.

The facilities are likely to be in place by the end of 2009. The IHF had submitted the bid around last November, and one of the reasons the IOA was keen on India hosting the event was the fact that it would be the perfect test of the infrastructure in place ahead of the CWG.

India finished a humiliating 11th out of the 12 teams at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. This is the first time India will be hosting the men's World Cup on synthetic surface.

The only other time India hosted the World Cup was way back at the Wankhede Stadium in Bombay (1982), which was on natural grass, when India finished fifth.