Women’s Champions Challenge
in South Africa

The first women’s Champions Challenge has been relocated to take place in Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa from February 9 to17, 2002.

England, Germany, India, Korea, South Africa and USA will contest the first Champions Challenge, which will be a biannual event, with the winner promoted to next year’s Champions Trophy to be held in August in Macau, Republic of China.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Indian Hockey Confederation (IHC) had mutually agreed to withdraw the event from Delhi, India, as it was clear that only a few of the participating nations were able to travel to India under the current political circumstances.

The South African Hockey Association has previously hosted the Women’s Olympic Qualifier in 1995 and more recently the All Africa Games in 1999.

Peter Cohen, FIH hon. secretary general commented, “The Champions Challenge is an important event to broaden hockey’s competitive base at world level and, from a different perspective, to boost the profile of women’s hockey in South Africa. We are very fortunate to be in this position, where FIH has been able to relocate both the women’s Champions Challenge and the men’s to Kuala Lumpur, at short notice.”

Related reports:
Champions Challenge in Malaysia - October 31, 2001
Malaysia may host Champions Challenge - October 27, 2001
India unlikely to host - October 24, 2001