FIH: Australia Rises in Official WorldHockey Rankings  x3
 |
| World Hockey |
December 9, 2003 
FIH
> Page Views 4387
Australia?s win of the BDO Hockey Champions Trophy, Women tournament in
Sydney last weekend has lifted Australia to No. 2 on the official FIH
WorldHockey women?s rankings.
Australia, which beat China 3-2 in the final at Sydney Olympic Park on
Sunday, has risen from No. 3 to No. 2, swapping rankings with European
champion The Netherlands after the Hockeyroos collected the maximum 300
points on the FIH?s official world ranking chart.
World champion Argentina remains ranked No. 1 despite finishing the BDO
Champions Trophy without a medal after losing to The Netherlands 3-2 in the
bronze-medal play-off on Sunday.
Champions Trophy competitors China, England and Korea did not change their
rankings after the week-long tournament in Sydney remaining fourth, fifth
and sixth respectively.
The ranking system has allowed the seedings for the women?s Olympic
qualifying tournament in Auckland, New Zealand in March to be ratified.
Great Britain, taking England?s No. 5 ranking, will be top seeded in Pool A
and have in its group Germany (ranking No. 8), New Zealand (No. 9), Ireland
(No. 14) and the Ukraine (No. 15).
Korea, which finished sixth at the Champions Trophy losing a penalty
shoot-out with England 2-4 after a 2-2 deadlock in field play, will head
Pool B which also comprises Spain (No. 7), the USA (No. 10), Japan (No. 11)
and Russia (No. 17).
The FIH this year established official WorldHockey rankings that recognise a
nation?s performances in a four-year cycle and are generated by results in
premier events.
The official FIH world rankings for women?s hockey are available on
www.WorldHockey.org.
Your opinion counts.
Rate this article or enter your comments below.
|
