29 March 2022 Lausanne, Switzerland: As we build up towards the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup, which springs into action on 1 April in Potchefstroom, South Africa, here is a preview of the teams that comprise Pool A. Pool A: Canada, Netherlands, United States and Zimbabwe As runners-up at the Junior EuroHockey Championships (beaten by Spain on shoot-out), and the team with the highest number of wins at this tournament (3), Netherlands will be the team to beat in this pool. Head Coach Dave Smolenaars will have a host of players at his disposal who have been part of a national structure that produces wave after wave of quality hockey players. The Netherlands open their account with a match against USA on the first day of competition. The most intriguing meet-up in this pool will be the Pan Am clash between USA and Canada. The Canadians will be full of confidence after they won the Junior Pan Am Championship for the first time in their history. USA have been very much in a rebuilding stage so it will be interesting to see how the players respond to this challenge. USA Head Coach Tracey Paul will be looking for the experience of players such as Hope Rose and Charlotte de Vries to lead her team through to the knock-out stages. USA’s highest ever finish in their eight previous appearances was seventh in 2013. Canada’s last appearance was in 2013, when they finished 14th. Like USA, the Canadian team’s previous best was a seventh place in 1989. For Canada, nine of the team that won the Junior Pan Am Cup will be making the trip to South Africa. Head Coach Jenn Beagan is delighted at the prospect of both the junior and senior Canada teams competing in World Cups this year, saying: ‘This is an exciting time and I have no doubt the athletes will rise to the occasion.’ Zimbabwe are a country that has been really focused on developing their national teams in the past few years, and they could spring a surprise on their more experienced opponents. Their previous three appearances have seen the African team finish in last place, but, with the event taking place on African soil for the first time, they will be aiming much higher this time around. Mutsa Bera, the Zimbabwe captain said: ‘We are going to learn a lot from playing at such a big event. It is about taking up the challenge, just going in there and putting up a fight. ‘It is such a big thing to be able to go out there and make a mark for Zimbabwe hockey and show how ready we are to do this.’ Zimbabwe face Canada in their opening Pool A match on 1 April. #RisingStars #JWC2021 For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website.

25 March 2022 Lausanne, Switzerland: With just a few days to go before the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup South Africa 2021 springs into action in Potchefstroom the squads for the participating nations are now known. For all the squad lists, please click here. Among the athletes from the 16 teams are Olympians, Olympic medallists and players that have already seen top class action through the FIH Hockey Pro League. This is also the stage upon which new stars are revealed to hockey fans. It was back in 1997 that an unknown junior called Luciana Aymar led Argentina to a Junior World Cup bronze medal – we all know how that story unfolded. Today’s crop of Las Leoncitas will be hoping to retain the gold medal that the 2016 squad won in Santiago, Chile. For teams such as Netherlands, Germany and Korea, the Women’s Junior World Cup has been a traditional hunting ground for medals. Those three teams between them have won 12 medals, and all three will want to be adding to their tallies. For Germany, players such as Pauline Heinz and Jette Fleschütz will be bringing a huge amount of experience of top flight hockey, having already experienced Olympic and FIH Hockey Pro League action. In addition, the German U21 squad played two senior FIH Hockey Pro League matches against India, gaining a wealth of experience the process. Also on the hunt for medals will be the India women’s side. Having observed the rapid rise of their women’s senior team through the rankings, and the adulation to which the squad returned on the back of an Olympic fourth place finish, the India team will want to take advantage of the momentum surrounding women’s hockey in the country right now. At the other end of the experience continuum are teams such as Ireland and Uruguay who will be experiencing their first ever foray into Women’s Junior World Cup territory. Ireland’s athletes are already bringing a sense of joy to the show, with their revelation that the team managers included pool-based flamingo racing as part of their early morning warm-up routines. And then there is the emotion that will be so very present at this event. For South Africa, this is the momentous occasion when they hold the continent’s first ever FIH World Cup event. For Canada, this is the place where they were caught in limbo for a while in December as a result of pandemic movement restrictions – they will be looking for a happy return to Potchefstroom. And, of course, there is the potential presence of Ukraine. When, and if, the blue and yellow clad team line up for the opening match of the tournament against Ireland, there is unlikely to be a dry eye at the pitch. The media kit of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup is available here. For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website.

9 March 2022 Following the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) confirmation last week of the teams taking part in the competition, Birmingham 2022 has unveiled the full match schedule for the men’s and women’s tournaments. Both the women’s and the men’s competitions will begin on Friday 29 July, with the opening session of the women’s tournament featuring reigning champions New Zealand against Kenya and South Africa playing Scotland. Hosts, England, will face Ghana in the first match of the men’s competition with New Zealand facing Scotland in the same session. Please see the full media release from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games here. For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website. #Birmingham2022 #HockeyInvites

9 March 2022 Lausanne, Switzerland: Following last week’s decision by the Executive Board (EB) of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to exclude Russia from the upcoming FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup, the national team of Austria will now join this top-flight event scheduled from 1 to 12 April in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Austria will take the place of Russia in Pool C, therefore joining Argentina, Korea and Uruguay. It will be Austria’s first-ever participation in a FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup. Furthermore, FIH continues to be in contact with the Hockey Association of Ukraine and is still hopeful that the Ukrainian team will be able to participate in the event in South Africa. For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website.

8 March 2022 Lausanne, Switzerland: From leading a national team at the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup to returning from childbirth to lead a country to silver at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, we focus on five women who have demonstrated through quietly getting on with things and adopting a can-do approach, that dreams can become a reality. On International Women’s Day, we bring together five women, representing five continents who each, in their own way, provides inspiration to others by the weight of their achievements. From Korea, Seona Kim is a young woman who has just set out on her path to international honours. Her philosophy is simple: ‘I don’t have a role model, I simply put the effort into achieving my goals.’ Aleisha Neumann is a member of the senior teaching group in a large multi-ethnic school in Australia. Many of the skills of communication and people management translate from umpiring to teaching and back again. Tokyo 2020 were Aleisha’s first Olympic experience but she gets equal pleasure from umpiring domestic league hockey. For her, it is about the friendships and connections that she makes along the way. When international hockey opportunities are hard to come by, you appreciate each one all the more. For Phumelela Mbande of South Africa, this made her team’s performance at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 hard to accept as South Africa finished 12th. Rather than making excuses, the goalkeeper and her colleagues are determined to turn this around at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup. She says the forthcoming event is one of the most important events the team will have been part of as it is a chance to re-establish South Africa on the women’s international stage. India national women’s team Head Coach Janneke Schopman spent part of her adult life working in the construction industry. It was there that the Dutch Olympian learnt the important message that, if you want something badly enough, then you should just go for it – regardless of perceived barriers such as gender. She also adds that, no matter where you are in your career or your life, you should grab every learning opportunity as it presents itself. Argentina women’s national team has had a good few months. Last August they won silver at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, in January they were crowned Pan Am Cup champions, thus qualifying for the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup and they currently sit at the top of the FIH Hockey Pro League, ahead of arch rivals Netherlands. For Rocio Sanchez, this is all the more special because she gets to share the experiences with her daughter Fran. Born ahead of the Olympic Games, Fran now accompanies Rocio to hockey matches when it is possible. The presence of a new person in her life has changed the Leonas star’s outlook, making her a more empathetic person. It also proves that, with the right mindset and attitude, anything is possible. All video interviews are available here. For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website.

1 March 2022 Lausanne, Switzerland: Following yesterday’s recommendation by the IOC to avoid the participation of Russian athletes and officials in international competitions – in order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all participants – the Executive Board (EB) of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has taken the decision to exclude Russia from the upcoming FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup scheduled from 1 to 12 April in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Earlier this week, FIH had expressed its full solidarity with the members of Ukraine’s hockey community at this terrible time. FIH is in regular contact with the Hockey Association of Ukraine and is doing its utmost to offer any support it can, in the hope that the Ukrainian team will be able to participate in the upcoming FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup. FIH expresses its strong hope for a peaceful resolution rapidly.

1 March 2022 Lausanne, Switzerland: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has today revealed the match schedule of the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Spain & Netherlands 2022 (1-17 July). The opening match of the 15th edition of the most prestigious event in women’s hockey – alongside the Olympics – will see hosts Spain taking on Canada on 1 July 2022 in Terrassa, Spain. Matches in Amsterdam, Netherlands – co-hosting the tournament with Spain – will start on the next day (2 July) with New Zealand playing China. Both venues will host Pool matches, cross-overs, classification matches and quarter-finals, with Terrassa – which welcomed the Olympic hockey tournaments in 1992 – hosting the semi-finals, the match for the 3rd place and the final. Another major milestone is coming to life today with the start of the ticket sales! Tickets will be sold via the following online ticketing platforms: https://bit.ly/Tickets-Spain (for matches in Spain) https://wkhockey2022.com/ (for matches in the Netherlands) Fans are encouraged to book early! 16 teams are in the race to be crowned World Champions. The draw to define the Pools was done on 17 February in Terrassa, at the National Museum of Science and Technology of Catalonia: Pool A: Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Chile Pool B: England, New Zealand, India, China Pool C: Argentina, Spain, Korea, Canada Pool D: Australia, Belgium, Japan, South Africa Furthermore, the tournament’s mascot was revealed at the draw ceremony. This lovely dragon symbolizes the values of women in Hockey: passion, strength, wisdom, change, courage, vitality, protection and majesty. All hockey fans around the world are invited to suggest a name for the mascot through a contest running until 18 March. The chosen name will be revealed on 23 March. The voting platform link is: https://bit.ly/WorldCupMascot #HWC2022  #HWCMascot  #HockeyInvites For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website.

2 March 2022 Lausanne, Switzerland: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) have jointly announced today the 20 national teams that will participate in the upcoming Commonwealth Games hockey tournaments scheduled from 29 July to 8 August at the University of Birmingham, England: Women: Australia, Canada, England, Ghana, India, Kenya, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Wales Men: Australia, Canada, England, Ghana, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Wales The competition schedule is available here. The detailed match schedule will be released soon. FIH CEO Thierry Weil said: “With such an impressive line-up, we’re looking forward, together with fans around the world, to hockey tournaments which will once again belong to the greatest events to enjoy at the upcoming Commonwealth Games. On behalf of FIH, I’d like to thank the Commonwealth Games Federation for their intense preparations as well as their support. And I wish already all teams every success in Birmingham!” CGF CEO Katie Sadleir said: “We are delighted that 20 outstanding teams have confirmed their spots for the Birmingham 2022 hockey tournament. We have an incredible line up for both the men’s and women’s competition and hockey fans across the Commonwealth are set to see a truly world class competition in Birmingham. I would like to thank the International Hockey Federation for their ongoing support and we look forward to working closely with them and Birmingham 2022 to stage a tournament that will showcase the very best of Commonwealth sport.” Hockey has been part of the Commonwealth Games since 1998. Australian Men have won all six editions! In the Women’s tournament, Australia is also leading the all-time records with 4 Gold medals, followed by India and New Zealand (1 each), with the Black Sticks winning the last Commonwealth Games hockey tournament in 2018 in The Gold Coast, Australia. Matt Kidson, Director of Sport for Birmingham 2022, said: “It’s great news that we now know all of the hockey teams that will be taking part in Birmingham 2022. We are currently finalising the match schedule for the men’s and women’s tournaments, and we are looking forward to unveiling this information very soon. “The University of Birmingham will be an excellent venue for hockey and a new pitch has just been installed at our training venue at Wyndley Leisure Centre, so we will have world-class facilities available for all of the teams.” Tickets for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games are currently available at birmingham2022.com. Ticket sales for hockey have been strong, and with three matches taking place on some of the early days of the tournament, there’s a great chance for hockey fans to have a fantastic day out at the Games. For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website. #Birmingham2022 #HockeyInvites

21 February 2022 The university town of Potchefstroom in South Africa has been home to some fantastic FIH Hockey Pro League men’s matches over the past 14 days and it all came to an end with another defeat for the host nation at the hands of Germany. Germany put in a solid performance to beat South Africa 3-1. The result moves the European side to second in the FIH Hockey Pro League behind Netherlands. For South Africa, this was their eighth game in a fortnight, and each match has pushed the team to their physical limits. But, for Head Coach Garreth Ewing, the learning opportunities gained from exposure to international competition from around the world has been invaluable. To see the current men’s FIH Pro League Standings, click here. To see the current women’s FIH Pro League Standings, click here.  South Africa v Germany (men) – Potchefstroom, University of North West (RSA) The first quarter was played at a pulsating pace and it was South Africa who first caused defensive problems as the combined forces of Nqobile Ntuli and Dayaan Cassiem combined well to cause consternation in the German defence. German Head Coach Andre Henning had spoken before the match about his team’s need to focus on defence and South Africa set out to test this with some quick attacking movements. However, it was Germany who took the lead in the 11th minute as Dan Bell was unable to get his foot out of the way in front of his own goal. Christopher Ruhr made no mistake as he sent the ball past Estiaan Kriek in the South Africa goal. The second quarter saw Germany batter the South Africa defence with a barrage of penalty corners but Gowan Jones in the South Africa goal was equal to the task. A breakthrough came with three minutes left when a foul in the circle led to Germany’s second penalty stroke. Malte Hellwig made no mistake as he slotted the ball home. The third quarter saw things heat up as South Africa chased a grandstand finish to the match. Both teams received yellow cards as players upped the pace and ferocity of their play, however neither side were able to add to the score-line during this passage of play. Just seconds into the final quarter and Germany finally made a penalty corner count. A variation saw Hellwig’s shot well-saved but Paul- Philipp Kaufmann was able to find a way past Estiaan Kriek, who had replaced Jones in the South African goal. The home side finally found a reward for their hard work in the 47th minute. Ryan Julius made a penetrating run down the right-side of the pitch and drew a foul which led to a penalty corner. Connor Beauchamp made no mistake as he rifled the ball home. That was the final score of the game and the win means Germany move to second in the FIH Hockey Pro League table. Following the game, Player of the Match and German captain Mats Grambusch said: ‘In the end we were happy with the three points, South Africa played well. We have improved over the last 15 days that we have been here but now, our legs are tired. ‘Quite a lot has changed for us. We have a new coach, several new players and some injuries, so I am proud that we have moved from ninth to second in the league.’ South Africa’s captain Keenan Horne said he was proud of the way his team had developed their game management. He added that the team was excited and looking forward to the rest of the FIH Hockey Pro League season. FIH Pro League – 21 February 2022 Potchestfstroom, University of North West (RSA) Result: Men’s Match 24 South Africa 1, Germany 3 Player of the Match: Mats Grambusch (GER) Umpires: Sean Rapaport (RSA), Wanri Venter (RSA), Ayden Shrives (RSA-video) The next set of FIH Hockey Pro League fixtures will take place in Bhubaneswar, India at the Kalinga Stadium as Spain men and women travel to India to continue their FIH Hockey Pro League campaigns. The matches will take place on 26 & 27 February (all times India Standard Time) Saturday 26 February India v Spain (women) 17:00 India v Spain (men) 19:30 Sunday 27 February India v Spain (women) 17:00 India v Spain (men) 19:30 To see the complete FIH Hockey Pro League match schedule, please click here. Keep up to date with all the latest news on the FIH Hockey Pro League via the Watch.Hockey app, event website and through FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. #FIHProLeague #HockeyInvites