Hockey: SA women miss Olympics
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.SOUTH AFRICA'S women will miss the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta after failing to meet the mid-August deadline for the Inter Nations Cup, which starts in Singapore next Wednesday, because of a dispute among the sport's four governing bodies in the republic.
Els van Breda Vriesman, the secretary of the World Hockey Federation's (FIH) competitions committee, said yesterday that as a result the tournament would be reduced to 11 teams, split into one pool of six, which includes Scotland, and another of five, with six teams qualifying for next year's Inter Continental Cup.
Van Breda said: 'The FIH has done everything possible to encourage the four South African Federations to come together as one joint Federation. Alas, the four Federations have not found it possible to resolve all their differences. The women will now be unable to establish a track record for Atlanta.'
There is still hope that the men may be able to qualify, but they will need to compete in and win the Africa Cup to take the continent's one qualifying place.
England, after their fine 3-0 win against the Netherlands on Wednesday evening, will play Spain today in the first semi-final of the European Junior Cup here, with the Dutch meeting the powerful Germans in the second.
Mike Hamilton, the England coach, is in confident mood, although four of his players are nursing knocks from the Dutch match. He said: 'I expect to be able to select from a full squad and providing we do not give Spain's competent wingers too much space we should be playing in tomorrow's final.'
With the semi-finalists already qualified for the Junior World Cup in Terrassa next September, Wales and Scotland, along with Czechoslovakia and Switzerland, will be competing for the one remaining European place.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments