The women’s teams of Belarus, Belgium and Russia booked a place in one of the WorldHockey Olympic Qualifiers by reaching the semi final stage of the EuroHockey Nations Trophy. In the semifinals of the event in Siauliai, Lithuania, the three teams will be joined by Scotland.

According to the qualification regulations for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the best three teams of the EuroHockey Nations Trophy qualify for the WorldHockey Olympic Qualifiers, to be played early 2008. Scotland, one of the teams in the last four of the EuroHockey Nations Trophy, cannot participate in any Olympic Qualifier as England (as the nominated UK home country) has already qualified Great Britain for the Olympic Games as a result of the EuroHockey Nations Championships. Belarus, Belgium, and Russia are therefore sure of playing in one of the three WorldHockey Olympic Qualifiers.

The FIH will announce the pools for the WorldHockey Olympic Qualifiers late September when all the continental championships are finalized.

Results Wednesday 5 September:

Pool A:
France – Belgium 2:3 (1:2)
Belarus – Austria 9:1 (2:0)

Ranking: 1. Belarus 3-6 (14-4), 2. Belgium 3-6 (13-6), 3. France 3-6 (9-5), 4. Austria 3-0 (2-23)

Pool B:
Scotland – Russia 3:1 (2:0)
Lithuania – Czech Republic 3:2 (1:2)

Ranking: 1. Scotland 3-9 (10-5), 2. Russia 3-4 (6-4), 3. Lithuania 3-4 (6-6), 4. Czech Republic 3-0 (5-12)

Please click here to have direct access to the special EuroHockey Nations Trophy website.