MUSCAT: Oman’s spectacular Salalah city will host the draw determining the pools of the first ever FIH Hockey5s World Cup Oman on September 3 at 7 pm.
The Hockey5s World Cup will be staged in Muscat’s Al Amerat Stadium from January 24 to 31, 2024.
The draw will be held one day after the conclusion of the last qualifiers for this World Cup – Asian qualifiers -- also to be staged at the same venue. FIH President Tayyab Ikram will attend the draw ceremony.
As many as 16 teams will be competing in both men’s and women’s tournaments at the World Cup. Thirteen teams have already made it to the finals with the qualifiers completed except for Asia.
Hockey5s is an exciting and fast-paced shorter version of hockey with five players each on both sides.
In the women’s competition, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia (Africa), USA, Uruguay and Paraguay (Pan America), Netherlands, Poland and Ukraine (Europe), Australia, New Zealand and Fiji (Oceania) have qualified for the World Cup.
In the men’s competition, the participating teams include the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland (Europe), Egypt, Kenya and Nigeria (Africa), USA, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica (Pan America), Australia, New Zealand and Fiji (Oceania).
Alongside hosts Oman, the additional three teams from Asia will qualify through the upcoming Asian Hockey5s Qualifiers taking place from August 25 to September 2 in Salalah.
The group stage will consist of four pools of four teams each.
The Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex will stage the Asian qualifiers.
WOMEN’S QUALIFIERS
Higher ranked India, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand are placed in the Elite group of the women’s Asian Hockey5s Qualifiers. Six teams including hosts Oman are placed in the Challenger group. The other teams are Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Iran.
On the opening day of competition on August 25, all 10 teams are taking to the ground, with hosts Oman and other teams in Challenger group twice in action.
Indonesia meet Bangladesh in the tournament opener.
The Omani women open with a match against Hong Kong and return later to meet Indonesia.
In the first match of the Elite group, India take on Malaysia. In the last match of the day, Japan play Thailand in the same group.
The semifinals and final will be held on August 28.
Oman have already qualified to the World Cup as the hosts.
11 TEAMS
In the men’s Asian World Cup Qualifiers, 11 teams are in fray for the three spots available for the World Cup.
Favourites India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan, Bangladesh, Oman, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Iran, Afghanistan and Hong Kong will compete to decide the three qualifiers from Asia. Hosts Oman are assured of a place in the World Cup.
The men’s qualifiers are slated from August 29 to September 2.
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