SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT
Lausanne, Switzerland (October 19, 2021):-It all comes down to one prized qualification place for the winning women’s and two qualification places for the men’s teams at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2022 – European Qualifier 2021 and the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 - European Qualifier 2021. Taking place from 21-24 October in Pisa, Italy and Cardiff, Wales respectively, the teams that triumph will be taking part in the respective women and men’s World Cups in Spain/Netherlands (2022) and India (2023). For the women, there is one place up for grabs, while the two finalists in the men’s competition will earn the right to compete at Bhubaneswar in 2023.
Participating in the all-important event are the women’s and men’s teams that finished in six to eighth place at the EuroHockey Championships in Amsterdam in June 2021, as well the teams finishing in the top five places at the EuroHockey Championship II in Prague and Gniezno in August.
For the women’s competition Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Wales and France will be vying for top spot. In the men’s event, France, Wales, Russia, Ireland, Scotland, Austria, Italy and Poland will be doing battle.
Adding to the tension of two events that have so much at stake, is the fact that every round is a knock-out. This makes the seedings in the event highly important. The seedings will be based on the FIH World Rankings. This means Ireland are the top ranked women’s team, with hosts Italy in second place and Scotland third, while in the men’s competition, France are the top ranked side, followed by Ireland and Wales.
