India way down in FIH rankings

India have been placed in Pool B in the 10th men's hockey World Cup, to be held at Kuala Lumpur, from February 24 to March 9, 2002, along with Korea, Australia, England, Cuba, Malaysia, Poland and Japan.

The pools were decided on the basis of the international rankings of the competing nations. Holland are the No. 1 side in the world and therefore they head Pool A while South Korea, who are ranked No. 2 head Pool B. Australia are ranked third while Pakistan fourth.

The rankings are based on the performance of the teams in the 2000 Olympic Games and the World Cup qualifiers, held earlier this summer in Edinburgh.

FIH president Mrs Els van Breda Vriesman, who announced the two pools, said: "The pools have been composed in accordance with FIH ranking procedures and tournament regulations, in order to be transparent and objective to all the teams participating."

Thus India, who finished fifth in the World Cup qualifier are ranked 14th.

Defending champions The Netherlands hold the top rank followed by Korea, who qualified after winning the Asia Cup. Pakistan, ranked fourth, and sixth-ranked England qualified via the Sydney Olympics. South Africa made it via the Africa Cup while third-ranked Australia have qualified through Oceania Cup. Germany and Cuba qualified for the World Cup through European and Americas Cups respectively and Malaysia will participate as the hosts.

Former champions Pakistan have been grouped with holders Holland and dangerous Germany, in what is described as a "very tough pool". The pool also has the winners of World Cup qualifiers Argentina, Spain and three other "difficult teams" to fight it out for two semi-final spots.

The pools: (with rankings)
Pool A: Netherlands (1), Pakistan (4), Germany (5), Argentina (8), Spain (9), South Africa (12), Belgium (13), New Zealand (16)
Pool B: Korea (2), Australia (3), England (6), Cuba (7), Malaysia (10), Poland (11), India (14), Japan (15).