Paris Olympics 2024: Women's Hockey Qualifiers Shifted From Changzhou To Ranchi

In what has come as a huge boost for the Indian women's hockey team, the International Hockey Federation on Friday shifted the Paris Olympics qualifiers from Changzhou to Ranchi. FIH said that the decision to change hosts was being made since China have already booked their berth for the Paris Olympics by virtue of winning gold at the Asian Games earlier this month.

“After the Chinese women’s national team qualified directly for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 through winning the Asian Games last week, discussions were held between the Hockey National Associations of China and India for a potential change of hosts, motivated by the fact that maintaining this event in China whilst their national team has already qualified for the next Olympics would have impacted the fans and media excitement in the country,” FIH said in a statement.

“The move to India would ensure exactly the opposite and this would benefit all teams as they can expect playing in that wonderful atmosphere and excitement that Indian fans and media are always creating," the statement added.

The Olympic qualifiers will be played in Ranchi from January 13 to 19. The men's Olympic qualifiers will be played in Muscat from January 15 to 21. The Indian men's team have already qualified for Paris Olympics, having won gold at the Asian Games.

One other leg of the qualifiers for both men and women will be played in Valencia from January 13 to 21.

Six men's and women's teams each will qualify for the Paris Olympics through these qualifiers. Australia men and women, Netherlands men and women, China women, and the Indian men's team have already booked their spots.

The Indian women's hockey team, touted as one of the favourites for gold at the Asian Games, finished with bronze by beating Japan in the third-place match.