New Delhi: Eight-time hockey Olympic champions India will start their campaign against lowly-ranked Italy in the men's Olympic qualifiers for the 2012 London Games that would be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on February 18-26.
The men's field, besides hosts India, also includes Canada, France, Poland, Italy and the United States. India enter the event as highest ranked team in the tournament at world No.10. The two top teams will play the final and the winner will qualify for the London Olympics.
India shockingly failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games for the first time in 80 years.
This time the world No.10 have been handed a favourable draw and will open their campaign Feb 18 against Italy, who are lying in the 28th spot in FIH rankings.
The women's tournament will also be played simultaneously and, besides India, the participating teams are South Africa, Italy, Canada, Ukraine and Poland. South Africa are the top-seeded team and are ranked world No.12 while India are world No.13.
In all, six Olympic spots are up for grabs, three each from the men and the women's section. The winners of each of the six Olympic Qualification Tournaments will earn a berth to the London 2012 Games.
Comments
0 comment