Hockey: Olympic qualifier draw favours India

NEW DELHI: Former champions India were handed a favourable draw for the Olympic men’s field hockey qualifiers. India will play lower-ranked teams on home soil in the first of three qualifying tournaments, according to the draw released by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). The eight-time Olympic gold medallists were drawn with Canada, France, Poland, Egypt and the US in the New Delhi tournament from February 15-26. Meanwhile, world number six South Korea and world number four Spain will take on relatively tougher opponents in qualifying tournaments to be held in March and April. The winner of each of the three tournaments will join the nine direct qualifiers in the 12-team event at next year’s London Games.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2011.