Lausanne, Switzerland: Defending Olympic champions Belgium secured a trip to Paris to defend their men’s title later this year with a 4-0 victory over South Korea in the semi-finals. FIH Hockey Olympic 2024 Qualifiers to be held in Valencia on Friday.
Spain also secured an Olympic berth after fighting their way to a 2-0 victory over Ireland. South Korea and Ireland have the last chance to qualify. The winner of the bronze medal match will qualify for Paris.
In this way, the Japanese women’s team defeated India 1-0 in the bronze medal match in Ranchi to earn a spot. Indian women finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, but will miss out on the 2024 Olympics.
Lunch (W)
The women’s tournament held in Ranchi ended with all eyes on the third-place match between hosts India and Japan for the final spot at the Paris Olympics.
Meanwhile, Germany, which had already qualified for the Olympics in the semifinals, faced the United States in the final.
Japan got off to a great start in a fast-paced match against India, taking the lead in the 6th minute and dominating the first quarter. Fierce conflict continued during the middle period, with India gradually gaining power. By the fourth quarter, Japan lost possession of the ball and India launched an onslaught of attacks. However, Japan managed to hold on to a 1-0 victory, taking third place and earning a ticket to the Paris Olympics.
Shihori Oikawa, who was moved by this match, said the following after the match. I’m really proud of the team… After the first goal we just kept attacking, India are a very strong team so we never stopped attacking, we just kept playing and kept moving forward. I did. ”
Germany gave their all against the USA in the final, with Jette Freschutz scoring the opening goal in the third minute. They continued to dominate play throughout the first half, winning 10 penalty corners, adding a second goal, and denying America’s circle entry. The game would have been over long before halftime if Jennifer Rizzo hadn’t had a great game in the American goal. The Americans picked up the pace in the second half, but were unable to challenge the Germans, and it was up to American goal scorer Kelsey Bing to prevent Di Danas from a big win. With a 2-0 win, Germany could leave the title at Ranchi, but both teams got what they wanted in India, which has qualified for the Olympics.
Meanwhile, in the battle for the bottom, New Zealand defeated Italy 3-1 in a close contest to secure fifth place, while Chile defeated Czech Republic 1-0 to take seventh place.
Tournament prizes
Best Player: Nike Lorenz (GER)
Top scorers (4 goals): Charlotte Stapenhorst (GER), Sonya Zimmerman (GER), Jet FreshϋTS (GER)
Best Goalkeeper: Kelsey Bing (USA)
Best Junior Player: Deepika (IND)
Valencia (Male)
In Valencia, home Spain faced Ireland and Belgium faced South Korea in an important semi-final with two Olympic spots on the line.
The first half was a tense one, with hosts Spain and Ireland having few chances and both teams maintaining a close relationship. Spain took the lead in the third quarter with two penalty corner goals and despite heavy pressure from Ireland in the closing stages, it wasn’t enough to beat the sublime Luis Calzado in Spain’s goal. The 2-0 victory took Spain to the final in Valencia, securing a spot in Paris and continuing their proud record of having played in every Olympic Games since 1960. Ireland must win the third-place match to qualify for this competition. Spanish in the French capital.
Player of the match Rafael Villalonga said after the match: The atmosphere was great, so it’s really great to be here and for the fans to be together in Paris like they were today. ”
In the other semi-final later that day, Belgium had to work hard and be patient throughout the first half against South Korea, but were rewarded with Tanguy Cosins’ opening goal just before the break. They continued to control the game in the second half, scoring a goal in the third quarter and adding two more in the fourth, earning them a spot in the finals and earning a ticket to the Paris Olympics, where they aim to defend the title they won. is what happened. Tokyo 3 years ago. South Korea still has a chance to qualify for Paris if they win Sunday’s third-place match against Ireland.
Felix Denayer, Belgium’s captain and the match’s man of the match, who scored the fourth goal and helped the team qualify for a fifth Olympic Games, said after the match: Going to the Olympics is very special. We came here as favorites, but we didn’t have anything in our pockets yet, so now we can get our Olympic tickets and start preparing in earnest for the big stage in Paris. ”
In the 5th place deciding matchth up to 8th First-placed Egypt easily defeated Japan 5-1, but Austria came from behind twice to win against a tenacious Ukrainian opponent, and then won 3-2 in the penalty shootout.
For more information on qualifying and the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games, please visit: Olympics.Hockey.
FIH Hockey Olympics 2024 Qualification
Ranchi, India – January 19th
Result Match 17 (W)
Chile 1 – 0 Czech Republic
Best Player: Lucie Duchkova (CZE)
Referees: Amber Church (New Zealand), Catherine Turner (New Zealand)
Result Match 18 (W)
Italy 1 – 3 New Zealand
Player of the match: Stephanie Dickins (NZL)
Referees: Cookie Tan (SGP), Wanli Venter (RSA)
Result Game 19 (W)
India 0 – 1 Japan
Best player: Shihori Oikawa (Japan)
Referees: Ayanna McLean (TTO), Annelies Rostron (RSA)
Result Match 20 (W)
Germany 2 – 0 USA
Best Player: Nike Lorenz (GER)
Referees: Rebecca Edwards (UK), Christy Robertson (Australia)
Valencia, Spain – January 19th
Result Match 13(M)
Japan 1 – 5 Egypt
Best Player: Mahmoud Mamdouh (EGY)
Referees: Tim Meissner (Germany), David Tomlinson (New Zealand)
Result Match 14(M)
Spain 2 – 0 Ireland
Best Player: Rafael Villalonga (ESP)
Referees: Ben Gentgen (GER), Nick Bennett (ENG)
Result Match 15(M)
Belgium 4 – 0 South Korea
Best Player: Felix Denayer (BEL)
Referee: Zeke Newman (AUS), Michelle Otten (NED)
Result Match 16(M)
Austria 2 – 2 Ukraine (SO: 3-2)
Best Player: Fabian Unterkircher (AUT)
Referees: Rawi Ambananthan (MAS), Ilango Kanabas (MAS)