After a brief pause, the race to secure a spot at the next year’s Rabobank Hockey World Cup resumes this weekend when two crucial continental championships get underway on opposite sides of the world.
The Women’s Asia Cup is the first to begin, with Korea, China, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong China, Chinese Taipei and host nation Malaysia all in action at the event in Kuala Lumpur. The first match of the tournament sees Korea take on Kazakhstan, which is followed by exciting contests between Malaysia and China, India and Hong Kong China, and Japan versus Chinese-Taipei.
The second major event starting this weekend takes place some sixteen thousand kilometres away in Mendoza, Argentina, with the women’s Pan American Cup blasting into action. Hot favourites will be hosts Argentina, with living legend Luciana Aymar aiming to guide her team to glory. Argentina face Trinidad & Tobago in the final match of Day 1, following the conclusion of the USA v Mexico, Chile v Uruguay and Canada v Guyana contests. The tournament takes place in the newly built Mendocino Hockey Stadium, which was officially opened in a special ceremony on Thursday.
You can find out how to keep fully up to speed on all the action from these events by using our helpful links at the bottom of this page.
The winners of the Asia and Pan American Cup competitions will seal direct qualification to the 2014 Rabobank Hockey World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands. A number of the teams involved have already secured a spot at next year’s showpiece thanks to strong showings at the Hockey World League Semi Finals. If an already qualified nation becomes continental champion at either event, this will open the door to the nations who finished outside the top three at the Hockey World League Semi Finals. To see who has qualified so far and exactly how they got there, you can see our simple guide by clicking the links below.
World Cup Qualification explained - Men
World Cup Qualification explained - Women
Follow the action...
8th Women’s Asia Cup – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
21-27 September 2013
Official website: www.8thwomensasiacup.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/8thwomensasiacup
Twitter: www.twitter.com/womensasiacup13
2013 Pan American Cup (Women) – Mendoza, Argentina
21-28 September 2013
Official website: click here.
Facebook: click here.
Twitter: www.twitter.com/PanAmHockey
