Indian women’s hockey team faces a challenging assignment as they have been grouped with the formidable Germany, ranked 5th in the world, in the upcoming FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers scheduled to take place in Ranchi from January 13 to 19. Occupying the 6th spot in the global rankings, India is the second-highest-ranked team in the Indian segment of the Olympic qualifiers. The other participating teams include New Zealand (9th), Japan (11th), Chile (14th), the United States (15th), Italy (19th), and the Czech Republic (25th).
The remaining eight squads vying for Olympic berths in Valencia, Spain comprise Belgium, Great Britain, Spain, Korea, Ireland, Canada, Malaysia, and Ukraine. The male qualifiers are scheduled for Muscat and Valencia. The lineup for the Muscat qualifiers includes Great Britain, Germany, New Zealand, Malaysia, Pakistan, Canada, Chile, and China. Meanwhile, Belgium, Spain, Korea, Ireland, Japan, Austria, Egypt, and Ukraine will compete in Valencia for their chance to secure a spot in the Olympics.
The 16 teams for each gender have been split into two groups, with the division based on their global rankings following the conclusion of all continental championships.
The top three teams from each of the four Olympic qualifying events will secure their places in the Paris Games. The Indian men’s team has secured their spot in the Paris Games by clinching the gold medal at the recent Asian Games in Hangzhou.
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