Lausanne, Switzerland: Defending Olympic champions Belgium made certain they’ll be in Paris to defend their males’s title later this 12 months by successful their semi-final conflict with Korea 4-0 on the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024 in Valencia on Friday.
Additionally reserving their Olympic spot have been Spain who fought laborious for his or her 2-0 victory over Eire. Korea and Eire have one final shot at qualifying – the winner of their bronze-medal playoff incomes their place in Paris.
That’s how the Japan ladies earned their spot – by beating India 1-0 of their bronze-medal match in Ranchi. The Indian ladies completed fourth on the Tokyo Olympics three years in the past however will miss out on the 2024 Video games.
Ranchi (W)
The ladies’s match in Ranchi wrapped up with all eyes on the third-place match between hosts India and Japan with the final Paris Olympic qualifying spot up for grabs.
In the meantime, having already claimed their Olympic berths within the semi-finals, Germany confronted the USA within the remaining.
Japan made a blistering begin in a high-paced match in opposition to India, opening the scoring within the sixth minute and dominating the primary quarter. The center durations have been hotly contested with India regularly gaining the ascendancy. By the fourth quarter Japan have been unable to retain any possession and India ran rampant on assault. Nonetheless, the Japanese in some way held on for the 1-0 win, claiming third place and with that, a ticket to the Paris Olympics.
An emotional participant of the match, Shihori Oikawa, stated afterwards: “We’re super-happy as a result of at present was the final probability for the Paris Olympics and we made it occur. I’m simply super-proud of the workforce… After the primary objective we simply saved attacking as a result of India is a really sturdy workforce so we by no means stopped attacking, simply saved taking part in and pushing ahead.”
Germany got here out all weapons blazing in opposition to the USA within the remaining with Jette Fleschutz opening the scoring within the third minute. They continued to dominate play all through the primary half, incomes 10 penalty corners, including a second objective, and denying the USA any circle entries. Have been it not for Jennifer Rizzo having a incredible match in objective for the USA, the match would have been wrapped up lengthy earlier than half-time. The Individuals lifted their play within the second half, however couldn’t problem the Germans and it was as much as Kelsy Bing within the USA objective to disclaim Die Danas a a lot larger win. Germany could also be leaving Ranchi with the title after the 2-0 win however each groups obtained what they have been on the lookout for in India which was Olympic qualification.
In the meantime, within the contests for the decrease locations, it was New Zealand who secured fifth place with a 3-1 win over Italy after a tightly fought contest, whereas Chile completed seventh after a 1-0 victory over Czechia.
Event awards
Finest participant: Nike Lorenz (GER)
High scorers (4 targets): Charlotte Stapenhorst (GER), Sonja Zimmerman (GER), Jette Fleschϋtz (GER)
Finest goalkeeper: Kelsey Bing (USA)
Finest junior participant: Deepika (IND)
Valencia (M)
Over in Valencia, the house facet, Spain, took on Eire and Belgium confronted off in opposition to Korea within the all-important semi-final showdowns with two Olympic locations on the road.
It was a nail-biting first half between hosts Spain and the Irish with only a few alternatives and each groups maintaining issues tight. Spain took management within the third quarter with two penalty nook targets, and for all Eire’s intense strain within the closing minutes of the match, it wasn’t sufficient to beat a chic Luis Calzado within the Spanish objective. With the 2-0 victory Spain progressed to the ultimate in Valencia and booked their spot in Paris, to proceed their proud report of getting competed at each Olympic Video games since 1960. Eire should now win their third-place playoff if they’re to hitch the Spanish within the French capital.
Participant of the match Rafael Vilallonga stated afterwards: “It’s a dream for all of us. It’s wonderful to be right here and likewise for the followers to be in Paris with us like at present as a result of the ambiance was fairly good.”
Within the different semi-final later within the day, Belgium needed to work laborious and keep affected person all through the primary half in opposition to Korea and have been rewarded with a gap objective from Tanguy Cosyns simply earlier than the break. They continued to regulate the match within the second half, including a objective within the third quarter and two scorchers within the fourth to safe a spot within the remaining and e book their ticket to the Paris Olympics the place they’ll goal to defend the title they gained in Tokyo three years in the past. Korea nonetheless have a shot at Paris if they’ll win their third-place playoff in opposition to Eire on Sunday.
A delighted Belgian captain and participant of the match, Felix Denayer, who scored the fourth objective to take him to what ought to be his fifth Olympic Video games, stated afterwards: “It’s unbelievable, to be sincere. Going to the Olympics is one thing very particular. We got here right here because the favourites however we didn’t have something in our pocket but, so now now we have the Olympic ticket and now we are able to actually put together for the large stage in Paris.”
Within the playoffs for fiveth to eightth place, Egypt have been comfy 5-1 winners over Japan, whereas Austria got here from behind twice in opposition to a decided Ukraine facet after which prevailed 3-2 within the ensuing shootout.
For extra details about the qualifiers and the upcoming Olympic Video games Paris 2024, go to Olympics.Hockey.
FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024
Ranchi, India – 19 January
Consequence Match 17 (W)
Chile 1 – 0 Czechia
Participant of the match: Lucie Duchková (CZE)
Umpires: Amber Church (NZL), Katrine Turner (NZL)
Consequence Match 18 (W)
Italy 1 – 3 New Zealand
Participant of the match: Stephanie Dickins (NZL)
Umpires: Cookie Tan (SGP), Wanri Venter (RSA)
Consequence Match 19 (W)
India 0 – 1 Japan
Participant of the match: Shihori Oikawa (JPN)
Umpires: Ayanna McClean (TTO), Annelize Rostron (RSA)
Consequence Match 20 (W)
Germany 2 – 0 USA
Participant of the match: Nike Lorenz (GER)
Umpires: Rebecca Edwards (ENG), Kristy Robertson (AUS)
Valencia, Spain – 19 January
Consequence Match 13 (M)
Japan 1 – 5 Egypt
Participant of the match: Mahmoud Mamdouh (EGY)
Umpires: Tim Meissner (GER), David Tomlinson (NZL)
Consequence Match 14 (M)
Spain 2 – 0 Eire
Participant of the match: Rafael Vilallonga (ESP)
Umpires: Ben Goentgen (GER), Nick Bennett (ENG)
Consequence Match 15 (M)
Belgium 4 – 0 Korea
Participant of the match: Felix Denayer (BEL)
Umpires: Zeke Newman (AUS), Michiel Otten (NED)
Consequence Match 16 (M)
Austria 2 – 2 Ukraine (SO: 3-2)
Participant of the match: Fabian Unterkircher (AUT)
Umpires: Rawi Anbananthan (MAS), Ilanggo Kanabathu (MAS)
