Hockey: NZ side rated Olympic medal prospect

MILTON KEYNES - Australian women's hockey coach Rick Charlesworth does not rule out New Zealand as medal prospects at the Sydney Olympics in September.

Charlesworth made the comment at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Milton Keynes, England, when the New Zealand team were officially confirmed as Olympic starters after Britain beat China 1-0.

They are one of 10 teams who will take part in the Olympics. World No 1 Australia, Argentina, Korea, Holland and South Africa qualified on a regional basis.

They have now been joined by 1992 Olympic champions Spain, Britain, Germany and New Zealand, who are back in the women's draw after missing the Atlanta Olympics. The 10th qualifiers will be known after playoff matches in Milton Keynes this weekend.

Britain had some anxious moments before beating China, while Spain beat Ireland 1-0 in yesterday's final pool matches. New Zealand play Germany tomorrow for a place in the final.

Charlesworth felt New Zealand had to be considered a medal chance for Sydney.

"New Zealand are a medal prospect as are any of the sides that get there. Holland, the 10th and last team to qualify for Atlanta, won the bronze medal in 1996," he said. "New Zealand are in the top six teams in the world and have been up there for the last few years.

"Their win over Britain [No 7 in the world] reflected where the two teams are at the moment. New Zealand's first-up loss to Japan was just an aberration. They had enough chances to beat Japan and lost 4-0."

The British side competing in this tournament are the same as the England team who last year beat Charlesworth's Australian side, the world champions.

The New Zealanders had no time for celebrations after learning that they had qualified. They were preparing to return to the training pitch before playing world No 3 Germany, who were unbeaten in pool play, beating Ireland, India and the United States and drawing with Spain.

Germany beat New Zealand 4-1 in the Champions Trophy tournament at Brisbane last year and New Zealand beat the Germans 3-1 in Mar del Plata earlier this year.

New Zealand captain Anna Lawrence said Germany had their big guns at this tournament and she was looking forward to playing her 128th international game against them.

- NZPA