Austraila’s double success at the Oceania Cup over the weekend means that India (men) and Belgium (women) qualify for the 2014 World Cup in the Hague.
In the men’s competition in Taranaki, New Zealand, Australia defeated the hosts 5-2. Australia took the women’s final in a 5-4 shootout after the game finished 2-2.
Papua New Guinea men took bronze, defeating Samoa 3-0. Samoa won women’s bronze with a 5-4 shootout result after a 0-0 draw.
India and Belgium now qualify for the World Cup to be held at the 15,000-seater Kyocera Stadium between May 31 and June 15, 2014.
Like all of the continental championships, the big prize on offer for the winners of the men’s and women’s Oceania Cup tournaments was direct qualification to the World Cup. However, with both Australian teams having already achieved World Cup qualification thanks to performances in the World League Semi Finals, the door was opened to the teams that finished outside the top three at the HWL Semi-Finals that had not yet qualified for the World Cup.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has now confirmed that India men’s sixth place finish at the Rabobank HWL Semi Final in Rotterdam has proven to be enough for their participation, while the women of Belgium – sixth place finishers in the women’s competition in Rotterdam – have also been handed their ticket to the World Cup party.
A total of 22 teams (11 men / 11 women) have now qualified for the World Cup, with just two more places left to fill. The remaining berths will be taken by the winners of the rescheduled men’s and women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which takes place from November 18-24 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Rabobank Hockey World Cup – Men’s Qualifiers
Netherlands: Hosts.
Germany: Continental Champions Europe
Argentina: Continental Champions Pan America
Korea: Continental Champions Asia
Australia: Continental Champions Oceania
England: 3rd place – Hockey World League Semi-Final, Johor Bahru (MAS)
Belgium: 1st place – Rabobank Hockey World League Semi-Final, Rotterdam (NED)
New Zealand: 4th place – Rabobank Hockey World League Semi-Final, Rotterdam (NED) *
Spain: 5th place – Hockey World League Semi-Final, Rotterdam (NED). **
Malaysia: 5th place – Hockey World League Semi-Final, Johor Bahru (MAS) ***
India: 6th place – Hockey World League Semi-Final, Rotterdam (NED) ****
* Netherlands finished third in the Hockey World League Semi-Final event in Rotterdam. As they are already pre-qualified as the host, this means that the highest ranked fourth place finisher from both Semi-Final events earns direct qualification to the Rabobank Hockey World Cup. This place goes to New Zealand, who were fourth in Rotterdam and currently sit fifth in the FIH World Rankings.
** Spain qualified as second reserve courtesy of Germany’s victory in the TriFinance EuroHockey Championships. Spain (5th in Rotterdam) were named second reserve ahead of Malaysia (5th in Johor Bahru) courtesy of a superior placing in the FIH World Rankings.
*** Malaysia qualified as third reserve courtesy of Korea’s victory in the Asia Cup 2013.
**** India qualified as fourth reserve courtesy of Australia’s victory in the Oceania Cup 2013
Rabobank Hockey World Cup – Women’s Qualifiers.
Netherlands: Hosts
Germany: Continental Champions Europe
Japan: Continental Champions Asia
Australia: Continental Champions Oceania
England: 2nd place – Investec Hockey World League Semi-Final, London (ENG)
Argentina: 3rd place – Investec Hockey World League Semi-Final, London (ENG)
Korea: 3rd place – Rabobank Hockey World League Semi-Final, Rotterdam (NED)
New Zealand: 4th place – Rabobank Hockey World League Semi-Final, Rotterdam (NED) *
China: 4th place – Investec Hockey World League Semi-Final, London (ENG) **
USA: 5th place – Investec Hockey World League Semi-Final, London (ENG) ***
Belgium: 6th place – Rabobank Hockey World League Semi Final, Rotterdam (NED) ****
* Netherlands finished second in the Hockey World League Semi-Final event in Rotterdam. As they are already pre-qualified as the host, this means that the highest ranked fourth place finisher from both Semi-Final events earns direct qualification to the Rabobank Hockey World Cup. This place goes to New Zealand, who were fourth in Rotterdam and currently sit third in the FIH World Rankings.
** China qualified as first reserve courtesy of Germany’s victory in the TriFinance EuroHockey Championships.
*** With second reserves Japan and the already qualified Argentina winning the respective continental championships in Asia and Pan America, the World Cup ticket was handed to third reserves USA.
**** Belgium qualified as fourth reserve courtesy of Australia’s victory in the Oceania Cup 2013.
OCEANIA CUP RESULTS
SUNDAY 3 NOVEMBER
MEN’S FINAL
TET Black Sticks 2: (Steve Edwards, Nick Haig)
Australia 5: (Jacob Whetton 2, Jason Wilson, Russell Ford, Glenn Simpson)
Halftime: Australia 2-0
WOMEN’S FINAL
Australia won sudden death penalty shoot-out 5-4
TET Black Sticks 2: (Sophie Cocks, Kayla Sharland)
Australia 2: (Jordyn Holzberger, Madonna Blyth)
Halftime: Tied 1-1
MEN’S BRONZE MEDAL MATCH
Papua New Guinea: 3
Samoa: 0
Halftime: Papua New Guinea 1-0
WOMEN’S BRONZE MEDAL MATCH
Match drawn 0-0 at fulltime, Samoa won shoot-out
Samoa: 4
Papua New Guinea: 3
Halftime: Tied 0-0
