Bengaluru, Oct 22 – The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has relocated the Women’s FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers from Changzhou, China, to Ranchi, India. This decision follows the direct qualification of the Chinese Women’s Hockey Team for the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2022.
The Women’s FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers are scheduled to take place at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh AstroTurf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand, from January 13 to 19, 2024. Seven national teams, including India, will compete for a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics, with the top three teams securing their berth.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed his honor in welcoming the global hockey fraternity to Ranchi, highlighting the state’s growing status as a sports hub. Hockey India President Padma Shri Dr. Dilip Tirkey and Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh expressed gratitude to FIH for supporting India’s proposal to host the qualifiers and thanked the Government of Jharkhand for its support.
Indian Women’s Hockey Team Captain Savita expressed excitement about playing in front of the home crowd in Ranchi, stating that it will motivate the team to secure a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Indian team recently clinched the Bronze medal in the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, boosting their confidence for the upcoming qualifiers.
Additionally, the Indian team will participate in the Jharkhand Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Ranchi 2023 from October 27 to November 5, facing teams such as Japan, China, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand as preparation for the Paris Olympics Qualifiers.”
