World Top-8 ranked hockey teams earn an automatic bye for initial FIH World Series – Hockey Feature
International Hockey Federation (FIH) has advanced towards the preparation of their next key competition, the FIH World League which is all set to make its’ debut in 2012.
FIH is offering an opportunity to qualify for a place in the FIH World Cup or the Olympic Games to each of their member. Under the period of 2012-2013, this league will qualify four teams automatically into the FIH World Cup 2014, which is to be held in
The Hague, Netherlands.
For availing such a tremendous opportunity, invitation letters have been sent to all FIH members and the last date to register for the participation in the World League was April 1, 2011.
The league is formerly referred to as the World Series and will consist of four rounds. Among these, two rounds shall be played in the 2012 calendar year, whereas, the rest two shall fall in 2013, to finish-off the series. This event is inclusive of both
Men and Women hockey teams.
The hockey teams (men and women) that stand 1st-8th in the FIH World Ranking shall automatically be eligible to play Round Three. Whereas, the teams placed in the next tier (9th-16th) shall receive an automatic berth to Round Two. Each level of
the World league shall award FIH World Ranking points. The details relevant to these points will be announced at a later date. However, teams qualifying for Round Three and Round Four, according to the FIH World ranking are described as:
Teams Ranked 1-8 (Qualified for Round 3)
Men:
Germany, Pakistan, New Zealand, Netherlands, Spain, Australia, England and Korea
Women:
Netherlands, China, Argentina, Germany, Australia, Korea, New Zealand and England
Teams Ranked 9-16 (Qualified for Round 2)
Men:
Japan, China, Argentina, South Africa, Malaysia, Canada, India and Belgium
Women:
Spain, Chile, Japan, USA, India, Ireland, South Africa and Azerbaijan
The number of entries from the member countries will decide the number of tournaments in Round One. This means every nation has a chance to head to the World Cup and Olympics, which makes the World League distinctive from the other qualifier rounds.
FIH Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kelly Fairweather, said, “We have long wanted to start an international competition that goes over multiple rounds and gives every nation a change to reach our elite events. With the World League, we have just that.”
He further stated, “It has long been the ambition of the FIH to give every country a chance to make it to the highest possible level. The World League gives the smaller nations valuable international experience, while allowing them to have the chance to
play the role of David against some of the Goliath countries.”
FIH will closely be organising these tournaments with the assistance of their Five Continental Federations. It is planned that the First Round will commence in a much local place, to avoid heavy travel costs. The teams qualifying for Round Two will automatically
join the 9th-16th ranked nation teams.
A total of eight teams will skim out from Round Two, making their way towards Round Three among the top-ranked nations, which formerly would have automatically qualified for the round. Then these 16 teams shall play in two groups of eight.
The final two rounds will be held in 2013 and the champion team will win the title in the final round. The number of teams that qualified will be evaluated by considering the fact that whether the host team made it through to the qualification process or
not.
FIH Executive Board has decided the host nations for Round Three and Round Four. The complete description is provided as:
Men’s:
Round 3-A Pakistan February 2013
Round 3-B Germany June 2013
Round 4 India September 2013
Women’s:
Round 3-A Netherlands June 2013
Round 3-B China June 2013
Round 4 Argentina December 2013
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