Brazil men and women won the Pan American Challenge in Chiclayo, Peru last weekend, and along with runners up Venezuela men and Barbados women, qualified for the 2017 Pan American Cup.
This year’s men’s Challenge saw teams from Brazil, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela compete for the title while the women’s Challenge welcomed teams from Barbados, Brazil, Panama, Peru and Puerto Rico.
This was the first official international hockey competition won by both Brazil men and women, with both teams progressing through the tournament unbeaten on their way to victory.
In the men’s final, Brazil defeated Venezuela 1-0 in a tight game, thanks to a goal by Matheus Borges.
They will be looking to take confidence from this tournament victory into next summer’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games, which they qualified for earlier this year.
Their women made it a Brazilian double as they won 3-1 against Barbados in their final. Eveline Beljon scored the opening goal for Brazil, who fielded a team that included a number of new and younger players. Mayara Fedrizzi then went on to score another two goals to take Brazil’s lead to 3-0. Tricia-Ann Greaves scored the only consolation goal for Barbados.
The men’s and women’s Pan American Challenges are relatively new competitions, with the first one played in 2011. It is open to all teams not qualified for the top tier Pan American Cup already.
The 2017 Pan American Cup will be held in Lancaster, USA in August 2017. The winners of the men’s and women’s competitions will qualify for the Hockey World Cups in 2018, whilst it will also be one of the qualification events for the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru.
For all the results, videos and photos from the 2015 Pan American Challenge (Men), click here.
Results, videos and photos from the 2015 Pan American Challenge (women), can be found here.
For more information about hockey in the Pan American region, visit the Pan American Hockey Federation website by clicking here.
Photo: Pan American Hockey Federation
