China secure World Cup qualification, South Korea out

Lausanne: China will be competing in the Hockey World Cup for the first time ever after they pipped South Korea to qualify for the 2018 edition in India. China's place was confirmed on Saturday when South Korea drew 1-1 with Malaysia in the Asia Cup in Dhaka, a result which put the Malaysians into the final against India. While China created history, it was a dark day for the South Korean team which will not be part of the World Cup for the first time since 1998 event in Utrecht, Netherlands. Under FIH regulations, the team that wins its continental qualifier automatically qualifies for the World Cup.

However, as both India, as hosts, and Malaysia — who finished fourth at the Hero Hockey World League semi-final in London earlier this year — have already qualified for next year s showpiece, a World Cup qualification spot opened up for the team next in line that had not yet qualified for the event. That team was China, who take the ticket to Bhubaneswar courtesy of their eighth place finish in the World League semi-final in London. Korea finished one place below Asia rivals China at the World League in London.