FIH release schedule for the Fintro men and women’s Hockey World League Semi-Final, Antwerp, Belgium

Men’s Pool A includes 2014 World Cup winners, Australia lining up alongside India and Pakistan Women’s Pool A features reigning World and Olympic champions the Netherlands with Asian challengers Korea and Japan Men’s Pool B includes hosts Belgium alongside Great Britain and Malaysia Women’s Pool B features 2014 World Cup Silver medallists Australia, New Zealand and hosts Belgium 24 March, 2015: International Hockey Federation (FIH) have released the pools and match schedule for the Fintro men and women’s Hockey World League Semi-Final in Antwerp, Belgium. The Hockey World League Semi-Final is a qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games with three guaranteed places available to both the ten men’s and ten women’s teams competing in this Semi-Final leg in Belgium. The tournament will start on 20 June 2015 and conclude with the Finals and playoffs on 4 and 5 July 2015as part of a spectacular joint men and women’s event. In both the men’s and women’s event, the ten teams making up the pools are a mixture of automatic qualifiers courtesy of their world rankings (at the time of entry), the hosts and the teams who join via their qualification success in Round 2 of the Hockey World League. Pool A in the men’s event contains 2014 World Cup winners, Australia lining up alongside India, Pakistan and Round 2 qualifiers Poland and France.  While in Pool B, hosts Belgium are joined by Great Britain, and Round 2 qualifiers, Malaysia, Ireland and China. Pool A in the women’s event features reigning World and Olympic champions the Netherlands with Korea, Japan and Round 2 qualifiers Italy and Azerbaijan.  Pool B is looking very competitive with 2014 World Cup silver medallists Australia taking on hosts Belgium, New Zealand and qualifiers India and Poland. FIH President, Leandro Negre said: “We are very excited about this tournament as it is a joint event with both men and women’s teams competing for places at the 2016 Olympic Games.  With the Belgium men and women’s teams taking part we know the fans will be out in support and expect a great atmosphere.  It promises to be a truly fascinating event.” KBHB/ARBH President, Marc Coudron said: “We are pleased to have the opportunity to organize such an important tournament as the Fintro Hockey World League Semi-Final. More than 120 enthusiastic people have been giving their best over the last year to make this THE hockey event of the year for Belgian and international hockey.” Participating Teams Men Pool A Pool B Australia Belgium India Great Britain Pakistan Malaysia Poland Ireland France China Women Pool A Pool B Netherlands Australia Korea New Zealand Japan Belgium Italy India Azerbaijan Poland To see the complete tournament schedule, please click here.