In hockey news, the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) Executive Board has appointed Spain as the official host of the inaugural FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup which will take place from 10th to 17th December, 2022 in Valencia.
The yearly event aims to offer the best ranked teams that are not participating in the FIH Pro League a top-level competition for a chance to be promoted to the Pro League the next season. By inaugurating the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup, they are effectively introducing a promotion-relegation principle for the FIH Pro League.
These are the following eight teams that will be participating in the very first edition: Spain, Canada, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea and South Africa.
FIH CEO Thierry Weil said: “On behalf of FIH, I’d like to thank wholeheartedly the Royal Spanish Hockey Federation for hosting this inaugural edition of the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup, a new competition in our portfolio which will bring further excitement to our sport. Nothing less than a place within the FIH Hockey Pro League is at stake. This promises to generate great and hard-fought matches between excellent teams! That is really good for the growth of our sport worldwide.”
“We are very happy that the FIH has given us the organization of the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup. Another great women's hockey event that we will be able to organize in our country. We are proud to be the chosen ones and we are very grateful. It is an opportunity for the women's team to qualify for the FIH Hockey Pro League and, like the men's team, play this great hockey competition", said Santiago Deó, President of the Royal Spanish Hockey Federation.
