KUALA LUMPUR – “I wouldn’t be surprised if the injustice shown toward Asian hockey nations soon extends to countries in Africa and the Americas.”
These were the words of master tactician Kim Sang-ryul, expressing his disappointment with the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) revised World Cup qualification process, which has made it more difficult for Asian teams to qualify for the 2026 edition.
Previously, Asia was guaranteed three spots through the Asian Cup. In the 2022 edition held in Jakarta, eight teams competed, with South Korea (champions), Malaysia (runners-up), and Japan securing places in the 2023 World Cup in India.
However, for the upcoming 2025 Asian Cup, whose venue and dates are yet to be determined, only the champion will secure an automatic berth, while other teams must compete in World Cup qualifiers in January 2026.
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands and will feature 16 teams.
Speaking to Scoop from Liaoning province in China, Sang-ryul, who played a pivotal role in leading the Chinese women’s team to a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, emphasised the need for hockey coaches and national governing bodies to stand up against FIH’s decision, warning that it could damage the spirit of the game in the long run.
“I find this decision by FIH to be misguided and lacking value. As a coach and consultant who has travelled extensively throughout Asia, I have seen the passion and effort Asian nations invest in improving the game.
“With FIH favouring European teams and the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) remaining silent, I fear this will stifle the sport’s growth in the region and discourage Asian teams from taking the sport seriously.
“We need to protect the sport and speak out against this decision. The Chinese Hockey Association is also unhappy with it. We have some of the best coaches in the world in this region, and I hope we can all unite, along with the governing bodies, to fight this injustice.
“If this can happen to us, I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens to teams from Africa and the Americas. I am truly saddened by this development, but it is now our responsibility to prevent it from recurring.
“We need to press the AHF to genuinely represent Asia rather than act as FIH’s puppets,” Sang-ryul said.
Previously, Scoop reported that Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal and Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Tariq Masoori Bugti expressed their strong dissatisfaction with FIH’s decision.
It is understood that Subahan will raise the issue at the upcoming FIH Congress in Oman, while the PHF will submit a formal protest to both FIH and AHF.
So far, three countries have secured their spots in the World Cup: hosts Belgium and the Netherlands, along with Australia, who qualified by winning the 2023/24 FIH Pro League.
Five continental champions and the winner of the 2024/25 FIH Pro League will also earn places in the tournament, leaving seven World Cup spots to be contested in the qualifiers. — October 6, 2024
