Karachi, Sep 1 (Inditop.com) Former hockey world champions Pakistan will feature in the first World Cup qualifying tournament to be held in Lille, France, from Oct 31.
Pakistan, record four-time champions, will be the top seed in the event which will also feature Japan, hosts France, Poland, Russia and Italy (as reserve country).
Shahid Ali Khan, Pakistan’s coach, said his team will go all out to win the event and make the cut for the World Cup. “I’m confident of the title in France though our team will not be taking anything for granted,” the former Olympian told Inditop Tuesday.
The FIH has announced nine of the twelve participants for the men’s World Cup in Delhi after the conclusion of the EuroHockey Nations Championships and the Oceania Cup.
Eighteen teams still have a chance to claim one of the three remaining spots for the tournament. These 18 teams have been allocated the following qualifiers:
Lille, France, Oct 31- Nov 8, 2009: Pakistan, Japan, France, Poland, Russia, Italy (as reserve country).
Invercargill, New Zealand, Nov 7-15, 2009: New Zealand, China, Malaysia, Austria, Scotland, Wales.
Quilmes, Argentina, Nov 14-22, 2009: Belgium, Argentina, Ireland, the US, the Czech republic, Chile.
rounak