Two-pool women's qualifier from September 17

CHENNAI, AUG. 3. Consequent to the decision to roll back to the two-pool format taken at the last meeting of Executive Board in Edinburgh last week, the qualifier for the women's World Cup in September at two venues, Abeyvillea and Almein, will be conducted in different pattern featuring 16 teams. The event will be held from September 17 to 30.

India is among the 16 qualifiers fighting for a place. With the final deadline for confirmation of participation having closed on July 27, the participating nations confirmed are the following.

Belgium, Canada, England, France, India, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Russia, Scotland, Ukraine, Uruguay and United States.

Peter Cohen, FIH Honorary Secretary General, commented: ``We are keen to advance as quickly and as conscientiously as possible to the new standard of a two-pools-of-eight format. Whilst we appreciate that any change in schedule at short notice may cause some inconvenience, there are clear scheduling benefits to the two-pool format for teams, supporters and media. Overall, it is encouraging that the progression to the new format has received widespread support from both the host organisers and participating nations.''

The FIH decided to adopt a two-pools-of-eight-teams format for the 10th men's World Cup, to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in March and the 10th women's World Cup in Perth, Australia in November 2002.

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