Updated news, previews, timings, for all the FIH Olympic hockey qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Fixtures:
Men
Oct 25/26: Spain v France
Oct 26/27: Holland v Pakistan, Canada v Ireland
Nov 1/2: India v Russia
Nov 2/3: New Zealand v Korea, Germany v Austria, GB v Malaysia
Women
Oct 25/26: Australia v Russia, China v Belgium, Spain v Korea,
Nov 1/2: India v USA
Nov 2/3: Germany v Italy, GB v Chile, Ireland v Canada
October 24
Karri McMahon will make her international return for Hockeyroos v Russia – 11 months after injuring her right knee at the Champions Trophy. More from 7 News.
“We’re playing at three o’clock on Friday in the heat, so hopefully that can hurt the Russians a little bit coming from a colder climate,” Hockeyroos coach Paul Gaudoin said.
“The team’s the strongest it’s ever been” says Ireland‘s Nicci Daly ahead of home matches against Canada.
October 23
Latest back-to-back matches:
GER v PAK 6 – 1
GER v PAK 6 – 2
October 22
Rookie Irish men’s coach Mark Tumilty admits the experience of his assistant Jason Lee will prove crucial ahead of their two-legged Olympic qualifier against Canada, reports The Irish Examiner.
At The 52 blog, Rio 2016 hockey gold medallist Shona McCallin explains how she and her England team-mates will be using their Euros disappointment to ensure GB qualify for Tokyo 2020.
A poll at hockey.nl, the current favourable outcome sees that Oranje men will only narrowly beat Pakistan.
October 18
Experienced defender Karri McMahon and NSW Pride forward Grace Stewart are the two notable inclusions in the Hockeyroos team that will attempt to book Australia’s place at a 10th straight Olympics when they play Russia.
October 17
Nothing is a given in today’s hockey. But a win for India men against Russia in the Olympic qualifiers is being seen as something that will definitely happen, writes Times of India.
Ireland women played the first hockey internationals at the new Sport Ireland Campus pitch, going down 4-2 to Belgium. Stephanie Vanden Borre’s brace when the scores were locked at 2-2 settled it for Belgium.
October 16
Belgium saw star names return to the fold after being rested for the India games, as the world champions ousted Ireland men 6-0 in their last match before their Olympic qualifier in Vancouver. More context and injury concerns latest with the Belfast Telegraph.
October 15
Spain women have lost 2-0 to Argentina in an unofficial match in Valencia. The Red Sticks won the opening match at the weekend. Indian men’s captain Manpreet Singh says they will not be taking Russia lightly in their Olympic qualifier.
India have returned from a successful European tour where they beat Belgium (2-0, 2-1, 5-1) and also won against Spain (6-1, 5-1). “We can’t take it easy,” he said. “We can’t underestimate Russia as the change in weather conditions will also suit them.”
Our #MenInBlue have landed in Odisha!
Members of the Indian Men's Hockey Team reached Bhubaneswar today, 14th October 2019, to attend the National Coaching Camp to prepare ahead of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Odisha!#IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/F67FSLjwfm
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 14, 2019
October 14
Pakistan have selected seven new players ahead of their tough qualifier away to the Dutch, according to Dawn. The last time the two sides played, Holland came out on top 5-1 at last December’s World Cup.
Meanwhile, Shirley McCay will move to within one cap of a magical 300 next week when Ireland take on Belgium and Korea in two warm-up games in Dublin on Wednesday and Thursday. More from Belfast Telegraph.
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