Australia pull out of junior hockey WC in India over Covid

AUSTRALIA on Friday (17) pulled out of various hockey tournaments, including the junior men’s and women’s hockey world cups, citing Covid-19-related travel restrictions. The men’s tournament is set to take place in India in November and December while the women’s edition is scheduled in South Africa in December.

Australia, who finished second in the recently held Tokyo Olympics, will also skip Season 3 of the Pro League which starts next month, along with New Zealand.

“Australia and New Zealand will not take part in Season 3 of the FIH Pro League (scheduled to start in October 2021) as a result of COVID related government travel restrictions and uncertainty in both nations,” Hockey Australia (HA) said in a statement.

“All participating countries and the FIH Pro League Council agreed it was untenable for international teams to travel to Australia and New Zealand, as well as for Australian and New Zealand teams to play overseas and return without having to quarantine,” it added.

Australia and New Zealand have strict C0vid-19 quarantine restrictions in place, making it difficult for them to host other teams.

“Based on risk assessment and current Australian government health advice, Hockey Australia is not considering overseas hockey-related trips at this time,” HA Acting CEO Michael Johnston said.

“The decision on our absence from the FIH Pro League was a collective one agreed on by all nations based primarily on other countries’ difficulty or inability to travel into Australia and New Zealand.

“In Australia it is apparent the easing of international travel restrictions is still a way off and none of the competing countries wanted to enter the next Pro League season without a level of assuredness,” he added.

Besides, Australia will also not take part in the Indoor World Cup in Belgium and the Masters Indoor World Cup in the US next year.

HA High Performance Pathways Manager Ian Rutledge, who has been overseeing preparation for Australia's participation at the junior men’s and women’s World Cups, said, “The past 18 months have been such a challenging period for these athletes who are currently in the window to compete at these World Cups and who are aspiring to become the next crop of Hockeyroos and Kookaburras.”

“Hockey Australia’s top priority is the safety and wellbeing of its athletes and staff and this decision reflects that,” he added.