The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has announced that India will host the women’s FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier, which was originally scheduled to be held in Changzhou, China. The decision was made after China’s women’s national team qualified directly for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by winning the Asian Games last week.
The FIH said that both the Chinese and Indian hockey associations agreed to the proposal, which aims to create more excitement and interest for the event among fans and media. The tournament will be held in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India from 13 to 19 January 2024.
Six teams to compete for Olympic berths
The women’s FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier will feature six teams that will compete for three spots at the Paris 2024 hockey tournament. The participating teams from Oceania, Europe and Asia are already known. They are:
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Germany
- Spain
- Japan
- Korea
The teams will be divided into two pools of three, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the cross-over matches. The winners of the cross-over matches will qualify for the Olympics.
Other FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers
The women’s FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier is one of four events that will determine the remaining 12 teams (six women’s and six men’s) that will join the hosts France and the continental champions at the Paris 2024 hockey tournament.
The other three FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers are:
- Men’s FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier in Muscat, Oman (15-21 January 2024)
- Women’s and Men’s FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier in Valencia, Spain (13-21 January 2024)
- Men’s FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier in Dublin, Ireland (dates to be confirmed)
The upcoming Pan American Games and African Hockey Road to Paris tournament will also decide the two women’s and two men’s teams that will qualify directly for the Olympics.
A countdown to Paris 2024
The Paris 2024 hockey tournament will take place from 27 July to 9 August next year. It will feature 12 women’s and 12 men’s teams that will compete for the gold medals.
The FIH has launched a campaign called #1YearToGo to celebrate the countdown to the event. The campaign features interviews with players, coaches and officials from different countries, as well as videos and photos of the venues and attractions in Paris.
The FIH also invites fans and media to visit its website Olympics.hockey for the latest news and information about the Paris 2024 hockey tournament.
