Malaysia earns berth in Champions Challenge-I
The national hockey team of Malaysia after displaying outstanding performance in the recently concluded Asian Games succeeded to earn a berth in the Champions Challenge-I. Malaysia along with several other squads will contest the
tournament, which is scheduled to be held next year in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Apart from Malaysia, New Zealand, Poland, Canada, Japan, Belgium, Argentina and the host, South Africa will contest the tournament.
Malaysia earned fourth position in the last edition of the Champion Challenge-II held in 2009; however this time, they were selected for the Champions Challenge-I after the International Hockey Federation (FIH) had increased the
number of the teams in the tournament to eight.
Otherwise, the Malaysian team was scheduled to play the Champions Challenge-II as they are standing in fourteenth position in the world rankings.
The Champions Challenge-I is expected to be held in the months of October and November in 2011, which will also disturb the schedule of the club-league in Malaysia.
On the other side, Ireland is grouped with Azerbaijan, India, Japan, Scotland, South Africa, Spain and the United States in Women’s version of the Champions Challenge-I. The event will be held in Dublin from June 18th
to 26th in 2011.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) also announced the teams for the Men’s and Women’s Champions Trophy and the Champions Challenge-II events.
In the Men’s category of the Champion Trophy, the host India is featured with Australia, England, Germany, Holland, Spain and the two additional participants of South Korea and Pakistan. South Korea, the sixth ranked squad in the
world and Pakistan, the gold medalist in the Asian Games were awarded additional places in the Champions Trophy.
On the other hand, eight teams too will participate in the Women’s edition of the Champions Trophy including Argentina, Germany, England, South Korea, Australia and the host Holland while New Zealand and China have been granted
additional berths in the tournament.
The Men’s version of the Champions Challenge-II will be held in Lillie, France from July 3rd to 9th in 2011. China, Czech Republic, Ireland, Scotland, United States, Russia, Austria and the host France will
take part in the tournament.
In the Women’s category of the Champions Challenge-II, Austria is featured with Russia, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Italy, Malaysia and Chile. Women’s edition of Champions Challenge-II will be hosted by Austria from May 7th
to 15th in 2011, who will organise their first international outdoor hockey event in the country.
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