FIH Road to London (Women)

	Complete OQ Tournament coverage on the FIH website
	Select matches will be streamed online.   Highlights will be available after matches.

The Canadian Women’s National Team enters the FIH Road to London ranked 20^th in the world – but they are ready for an upset.  After giving the reigning World Champion Argentina a run for their money at the 2011 Pan American Games, where Canada finished 4^th, the Canadian women are confident they can outplay and defeat teams that seemingly outrank them.  Since Guadalajara, Team Canada has focused on improving their weaknesses and perfecting their strengths under the leadership of Head Coach Louis Mendonca.  This team had a strong performance at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, finishing 6th. 

Team Canada is eager to end a 20-year Olympic drought - their last Olympic appearance was in Barcelona at the 1992 Summer Games.  Team Captain and veteran Katie Baker is confident in her team, describing them as “competitive and tough.” 

The men and women will each play in a week-long round-robin tournament beginning on Saturday, February 18th.  The teams finishing first and second in each tournament will compete in a final match, with the winner earning an Olympic berth.  It will be a tough road, but tickets to London are well within reach of the Men’s and Women’s National Teams. 

Nine men’s teams (Great Britain, Pakistan, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Spain) and nine women’s teams (Great Britain, China, Korea, Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, USA, Argentina) have already qualified for London through continental competitions.  In total, six Olympic spots are still up for grabs; three on the men’s side and three on the women’s.  The winners of each of the six upcoming Olympic Qualifier Tournaments will earn a berth to the London 2012 Games.  In total, twelve men’s and twelve women’s teams will compete in London at the Riverbank Arena from July 29 to August 11, 2012.