LAUSANNE: Pakistan after being paired with Netherlands will play in the hockey qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Pakistan stands at 17th in the rankings while the Netherlands is 3rd. Three-time Olympic champions Pakistan will instead take on the Netherlands, the world’s third-ranked side, in Amsterdam on 26th and 27th October in the 14-team final qualification phase for the Tokyo Games which will see the aggregate winners earning a place at next year’s Games.
India, meanwhile, will face Russia while the other ties see Britain taking on Malaysia, New Zealand facing South Korea, Spain playing host to France, Canada hosting Ireland and Germany and Austria going head-to-head.
Japan, Argentina, South Africa, Belgium, and Australia have already secured qualification as the five continental winners.
Pakistan had previously failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics. The 2020 Olympic hockey tournament will be staged between 25th July to 7th August at Oi Hockey Stadium in Japan.
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