This week IOC has started sharing qualification guidelines for the Paris 2024 Olympics. We will keep you up to date with all qualification processes.
We start our Road to Paris 2024 qualification series with India’s most successful Olympic sport – Hockey!
Hockey at Paris 2024 Olympics!
Just like Tokyo 2020 games, Hockey at Paris Olympics will a 12 team competition. In both Men’s and Women’s competition, 12 teams will qualify.
Qualification System
Out of 12 quotas, 1 is reserved for host nation – France. In all likelihood, France will use the quota and field teams in both men’s and Women’s competition. France just needs to have their team in Top 25 World ranking to get reserved quota.
Rest of the 11 quotas will be given through 2 routes: Continental Championship & FIH Olympic Qualifiers.
5 quotas will be allocated through continental championships – Africa, Pan America, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
Rest 6 quotas will be allocated through FIH Olympic qualifiers to be held in January/February 2024. There is change in Olympic qualifiers system as compared to Tokyo 2020.
FIH Olympic Qualifiers: There will be 2 FIH Olympic qualification tournament consisting of 8 teams each (total 16 teams). The tournament format for qualifiers will be as follows: 8 teams divided into 2 groups
->Top 2 teams from group qualify for Semis -> Final. Top 3 teams teams from each Olympic qualification tournament will qualify for Paris 2024.
The top 22 ranked teams as on 31st January 2023 will be considered for Olympic qualification tournaments. Out of these 22 teams, 6 teams (5 continental qualifiers plus host) will be removed and rest 16 teams will go into Olympic qualifiers.
India’s Road to Paris 2024
India would have a great opportunity at this year’s Asian Games to secure quotas in both Men’s and Women’s tournament. If they fail to do so, they will have to take the longer Olympic qualifier route.
Here is how Olympic qualification timeline will look for India in Hockey:
Asian Games: 10-25 September 2022: 1 quota available in each Men’s and Women’s tournament.
FIH Olympic qualifier ranking cut-off: 31st January, 2023 – 6 quotas available through 2 separate qualification tournaments
Teams, Date and venues for Olympic qualifiers confirmed: 6th November, 2023
FIH Olympic Qualification tournament: January/February 2024
Hopefully there are no hiccups or surprises and both of our teams qualify for Paris 2024.
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