The women’s hockey team of New Zealand will take part in Champions Trophy 2011 on June in Amsterdam following the decision of International Hockey Federation (FIH) about extension of the tournament from six to eight teams.
FIH has appointed the Dutch as a host country of the tournament and with their consensus FIH has decided to extend the tournament of Champions Trophy by including two more teams – New Zealand and China.
Before this, New Zealand women’s hockey team took part in Champions Trophy in this year at Nottingham, England. The Black Sticks women’s hockey team had not been taking part in Champions Trophy since 2006; instead they had been playing in the lower-ranked
Champions Challenge tournaments and won two gold medals in the Champions Challenge and two more victories in the Oceania Hockey Cup.
In addition, the team has also won a silver medal in 2002 and a bronze medal in 2010 Commonwealth Games.
"This is a fantastic opportunity and a great boost to our high performance programme as we build up to the 2012 London Olympics," New Zealand coach Mark Hager said.
On the whole eight teams are going to take part in the Women’s Champions Trophy 2011: Argentina, Netherlands, Germany, China, England, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.
The New Zealand women’s hockey team captain Kayla Sharland was also very excited on the decision taken by FIH. She said that this announcement will really lift up the sport in the country which was once considered as an immature game in the New Zealand and
the chances to play in the Europe will open the doors and give financial assistance to players.
This is the golden opportunity for The New Zealand women’s hockey team to show their best in the region.
On the other hand FIH has not decided about the format of men’s Champions Trophy, which will be played in India.
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