New Zealand withdrew from the Pro League to focus on Olympic preparation

The New Zealand women's team will not participate in the fifth edition of the FIH Pro League (2023/2024). This was conveyed in the words of its managing director, Anthony Crummy: “Participating in the league as a founding nation was a difficult decision for us, but the right one to ensure we are in the best position to qualify and prepare for the most important event on our calendar, the Olympic Games.”

The Oceanic team finished the fourth edition in eighth place, avoiding being pushed to the bottom of the table by the United States. Confronted with the result, the International Hockey Federation confirmed that the North Americans would regain their place due to New Zealand's loss. Also, if you want to participate again in the future, you will have to earn your place through the inaugural edition of Nations Cups held by India to join the squads for the fifth edition starting in December.

Crummy also justified the decision with the costs of participating in the tournament: “In the post-Covid environment, the doubling of travel costs and the amount of travel makes it impossible to participate in the Pro-League while properly qualifying and preparing.” Olympic Games.” It should be noted that both New Zealand and Australia are not participating in the 2021/2022 edition due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

For New Zealand hockey's highest body, the focus is on qualifying for the Paris Olympics, as if it does not defend its title at the Oceania Cup in Whangarei in August, the team will have to go to Spain or China in the pre-Olympic tournament in January next year.

Executive manager Glen Sulzberger revealed the reaction of the players upon learning of the decision: “They are naturally disappointed as they have worked very hard in the last European competitions to finish eighth in the Pro League. “This will be a change from recent years, which we know will ultimately provide both teams with a better program leading up to the Olympics.”

Therefore, the women's teams participating in the 2023/24 edition are: Netherlands, Argentina, Australia, Germany, Belgium, China, India, Great Britain and the United States.