Asia: | Hockey World News

Again

World champions Germany booked their Olympic tickets by beating Egypt of their semi-final of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024 in Muscat on Saturday.

Becoming a member of them within the French capital this July would be the Nice Britain males’s aspect who claimed victory over New Zealand of their semi-final.

The was double pleasure for the British because the GB girls’s workforce additionally made positive of their place on the Olympic Video games by beating Eire within the bronze-medal playoff in Valencia.

Already assured of their Olympic locations, Spain and Belgium girls performed out an exciting closing with the Belgians leaving it late, however clinching the title with a 2-1 win.

Valencia (W)

The ladies’s match in Valencia closed out with all eyes on the third-place playoff the place Eire and Nice Britain went head-to-head for the final remaining spot for the Paris Olympics, whereas Spain and Belgium met within the closing with their tickets to Paris already secured.

Nice Britain delivered a medical efficiency in beating an Irish workforce that conceded too many turnovers at essential occasions within the match. Eire had a nervous begin and had been it not for the wonderful Ayeisha McFerran in aim, and Charlotte Beggs saving one bravely on the road, GB would absolutely have scored a few early objectives. Sarah Jones ultimately opened the scoring for the British aspect from a penalty nook rebound early within the second quarter, and Katie Robertson made it 2-0 from a turnover initially of the third. Eire lifted themselves to chase the sport, pulling their keeper off with seven minutes remaining and piling on the stress. They received three late penalty corners however by the point Hannah Mcloughlin put one away there have been simply seconds left on the clock. The two-1 win noticed Nice Britain ending third within the match and securing their ticket to Paris, whereas Eire’s Olympic dream is over.

Participant of the match Sarah Jones stated afterwards: “Emotional is certainly the phrase. Simply completely thrilled to qualify for the Olympics. I feel we had a incredible match. In the present day in all probability wasn’t one of the best hockey that we’ve performed however we’ve performed some actually good hockey all through this match and I do know that’s one thing we’ll construct on main as much as Paris.”

In the meantime, within the closing, two Spaniards celebrated private milestones with Bélen Iglesias and Lola Riera reaching 100 and 200 caps respectively of their match in opposition to Belgium. With each groups having already certified for Paris, they delivered a free-flowing and enthralling closing. Belgium had the higher hand all through the primary half however had been repeatedly denied by an electrical Clara Perez within the Spanish aim. Nevertheless, Spain created some alternatives of their very own and Sara Barrios put them forward with a subject aim after 29 minutes. The second half continued to be hotly contested and because the clock wound down it appeared that Spain had the end result within the bag. Nevertheless, Belgium confirmed their class with two late objectives, Louise Versavel levelling the scores on 56 minutes earlier than Charlotte Englebert fired in an absolute scorcher for the win lower than a minute later.

Within the decrease playoff matches, Korea got here from behind to beat Canada 2-1 for Fifth place, and Ukraine claimed seventh spot with their 2-1 win over Malaysia.

Match awards

Greatest participant: Barbara Nelen (BEL)

High scorer (9 objectives): Ambre Ballenghien (BEL)

Greatest goalkeeper: Ayeisha McFerran (IRL)

Greatest junior participant: Camille Belis (BEL)

Muscat (M)

The enterprise finish of the Muscat occasion arrived on Saturday with the winners of each semi-finals assured a spot in Paris. World champions Germany got here up in opposition to Pakistan and Nice Britain took on New Zealand.

Germany dominated of their match in opposition to Pakistan, holding large quantities of possession and dictating the tempo of the match. Tom Grambusch put Germany forward off a penalty nook within the first quarter, and Niklas Wellen made it 2-0 with a scintillating reverse strike early within the second quarter. Pakistan threatened briefly initially of the third quarter and Jean-Paul Danneberg needed to make two good saves to disclaim them a aim. The Germans responded with two fast objectives, Justus Weigand rocketing a reverse stick in from a protracted cross, and Wellen bagging his second off a penalty nook rebound a minute later to seal the 4-0 victory. Germany advance to the ultimate, so reserving their ticket to Paris, whereas Pakistan have one final shot at an Olympic place within the third-place playoff on Sunday.

Participant of the match Niklas Wellen stated afterwards: “We’re simply pleased. On this match it’s a must to win the semi-final or the bronze-medal match and we’re all actually, actually pleased that we received our ticket immediately… it wasn’t straightforward for us and I feel we confirmed our high quality immediately.”

Within the different semi-final, Nice Britain regarded barely higher than New Zealand within the opening quarter of a quick and bodily encounter. They pressed their benefit residence early within the second quarter, Phil Roper opening the scoring with a subject aim from a pleasant overhead popped to the highest of the circle, and Sam Ward including a penalty nook aim a minute later. New Zealand had been rewarded for a powerful spell in direction of the tip of the half, Kane Russel scoring a wonderful drag flick to make it 2-1. Ward added his second for GB off a penalty nook because the third quarter ended, and New Zealand pulled their keeper off to chase a end result with six minutes remaining within the closing interval. They got here shut just a few occasions however couldn’t beat a decided GB defence. With the 3-1 win, Nice Britain declare a spot within the closing and can be a part of their girls’s aspect in Paris, whereas New Zealand should win their third-place playoff in opposition to Pakistan on Sunday to hold their Olympic hopes alive.

Participant of the match Sam Ward stated afterwards: “It was only a incredible sport of GB hockey on the finish of the day. Clearly, the women going and profitable earlier was superb and us doing it now – it’s good not having to play the third-fourth tomorrow.”

Within the playoffs for Fifth-Eighth place, Canada beat China 3-1 and Malaysia romped residence 5-0 in opposition to Chile.

For extra details about the qualifiers and the upcoming Olympic Video games Paris 2024, go to Olympics.Hockey.

FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024

Valencia, Spain – 20 January

Consequence Match 17 (W)

Malaysia 1 – 2 Ukraine

Participant of the match: Karyna Leonova (UKR)

Umpires: Jianjun Chen (CHN), Zeke Newman (AUS)

Consequence Match 18 (W)

Korea 2 – 1 Canada

Participant of the match: An Sujin (KOR)

Umpires: Ivona Makar (CRO), Maggie Giddens (USA)