Great Britain’s male hockey team have followed in the footsteps of their female counterparts after it was confirmed that Team GB are guaranteed to have two teams compete at the Rio Olympics.
With their tense quarter-final win over Pakistan, Great Britain’s had taken a giant step towards securing their qualification for Rio 2016.
And just hours later that giant step turned into a reality after India’s win over Malaysia.
Six places for Rio are up for grabs from the two Hockey World League semi finals, with the top three in each competition earning themselves a plane ticket to Brazil.
However, as Continental Champions qualify directly for the Olympics, if these teams also finish in the top three in the HWL semi finals then additional places for the next highest ranked teams become available.
As India have already qualified for Rio 2016 by virtue of winning the 2014 Asian Games, a top-three finish for them in Antwerp would create an Olympic opening for the highest ranked of the fourth-place finishers from the two HWL Semi-Final events held in Argentina and Belgium.
With Canada, ranked 15th, finishing fourth in the World League in Argentina that means Great Britain, ranked fifth are guaranteed their place at the Rio Olympics even if they finish fourth in Belgium.
This news comes just 11 days after Great Britain’s women booked their place in the Rio Olympics with a stunning seven wins from seven in their World League semi-final, ensuring both Danny Kerry’s and Bobby Crutchley’s sides will represent Team GB in Rio 2016.
© Sportsbeat 2015