Chile secured unprecedented double success as both men’s and women’s teams qualified for the Hockey World Cups.
In front of passionate home support, Chile men followed the women in recording a first success at making the sport’s showpiece with a mirrored shoot-out victory over USA, who were also chasing a first World Cup berth, on Friday at the Pan Am Cup.
Felipe Renz said: “For Chileans this is historical, it has never happened before.
“It’s a tremendous joy for the team. We will have a full year of training and self-commitment with this new goal.”
USA’s UK-based Mohan Gandhi said that the game could have gone either way. “For us it is a very painful moment in the World Cup cycle for our team,” said the US captain.
History was also made in Santiago at the Women’s Pan Am Cup as the host nation secured their first ever qualification.
Defending champions and Olympic silver medallists Argentina swept aside Canada 3-0 in their semi-final at the Prince of Wales Country Club.
Chile edged out the United States in a shoot-out to set up a repeat of the 2017 final.
The third World Cup spot will go to the winner of the bronze medal match – either Canada or USA.
Meanwhile, Japan won the Women’s Hockey Asia Cup for the third time in its history after defeating South Korea 4-2.
China, India, Japan and Korea all secured the four automatic qualification spots available for this summer’s World Cup.
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