CHENNAI Indias hockey federation has postponed next months national championships due to H1N1 flu, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

More than 25 people have died and 2,000 have been infected in India by the virus that has forced the Bollywood film industry to put off big releases and cancel shoots.

The tournament was due to be held from Sept. 13-27 in the western Indian city of Pune, one of the worst hit by the virus.

The new dates shall be announced when conditions become normal there, Hockey India (HI) said.