This latest sports news blog is about the Indian women’s hockey team. They are working hard and getting ready for the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024. They hope to qualify for the Paris Olympics. And, they are leaving no stone unturned in their quest.
The women’s hockey team is ready to face the challenges that the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024 will throw at them. This tournament will determine the fate of eight nations competing for three spots in the Paris Olympics coming up later this year.
The team, led by veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia, arrived in Ranchi, Jharkhand, on 3rd January. They will kick off their campaign on the 13th of January against the United States, a team they battled against in 2019 for a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics.
“We are thrilled to be back in Ranchi for the crucial FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024. The last time we were here for the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy, the home crowd cheered us on and we had a great time. We are eager to start our campaign. Interestingly, our first match is against the USA, whom we played in the previous Olympic Qualifiers. I am confident it will be a thrilling match and we hope to have a good start,” said Savita on arriving in Ranchi.
Want to read interesting sports articles on Olympics? Click here.
Format of FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024
The FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024 will be held from January 13 to 19, at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi. The tournament was scheduled to be held in China, but was shifted to India after the Chinese women’s hockey team qualified for the Olympics by winning the gold medal at the Asian Games.
The tournament will feature eight nations, divided into two pools. India are in Pool B, with New Zealand, USA and Italy. Pool A consists of Germany, Japan, Chile and the Czech Republic. The top two from each pool will advance to the semi-finals, and the finalists will qualify for the Olympics. The third-place finisher will also book a ticket to Paris 2024.
Team Performance and Rankings
India is the second-highest ranked team in the tournament, at world No. 6, behind Germany (world No. 5). The hosts have a good record against their pool opponents, having beaten New Zealand and USA in the past year, and having never lost to Italy in previous encounters. However, the team is not taking any team lightly and is prepared for any challenge.
Want to read more hockey articles? Click here!
Latest Sports News: Achievements of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team
The Indian women’s hockey team has been in good form, having won the Asian Champions Trophy in November last year, defeating Japan in the final. The team also performed well at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in 2023, finishing fourth and third, respectively. The team has shown improvement in all aspects, such as fitness, skills, tactics and mental strength.
The team is coached by Janneke Schopman, who has been around since 2021. She has brought a change in the team’s culture and mindset, and instilled a sense of unity and belief among the players. She has also focused on developing attacking and defensive strategies, and given opportunities to young and talented players to showcase their potential.
Schedule and Expectations
The Indian women’s hockey team will play their first match against USA on January 13, followed by matches against New Zealand on January 14 and Italy on January 16. The semi-finals will be held on January 18. The final and the third-place match will be held on January 19.
The Indian women’s hockey team has a golden opportunity to qualify for the Olympics for the third consecutive time, after making their debut at Rio 2016 and finishing fourth in Tokyo 2020. The team is determined to make history and win an Olympic medal. The FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024 is the first step in that direction.
The team is hopeful of getting the support and encouragement of the fans and the media. “We are grateful to the FIH, Hockey India and the government for organising this tournament in India. We hope that the people of Ranchi and the whole country will come and support us. We also request the media to cover our matches and spread the word about our team and our sport. We are playing for our nation and we need your support and blessings,” star player Rani Rampal said.
Want to know the latest sports news updates? Whether you’re into detailed analyses or quick score updates, RevSportz has you covered for all things sports. Our hockey news articles as well as other sports content explore player profiles, strategy breakdowns, and historical context. So, say goodbye to endless scrolling — bookmark RevSportz, your gateway to a world where the excitement of the crowd and the sound of action are just a click away.