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The Nairobian

Kenya women’s hockey team books a slot at Club Games in UK

Hockey

By Standard Sports | Feb 20, 2022

**Kenya team warm-up before action against Uganda at Sikh Union, Parklands during an Africa Cup of Nations Test match. ON March 18, 2021.** [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

The national women’s hockey team has qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games slated for July 28-August 8 in Birmingham, England.

This was confirmed on Friday by International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) via a letter to the National Olympic Committee – Kenya (NOC-K ).

The team recently took part in the African Cup of Nations in Accra, Ghana where they won a bronze medal.

“Qualification in hockey is based on FIH World Ranking, with the Kenya women’s team ranked 3rd in Africa behind South Africa and Ghana. Kenya now joins their counterparts, Ghana to compete at the Commonwealth Games, the two nations having received reallocation slots that were not taken up by the top internationally ranked teams,” explained Kenya Hockey Union president, Col (Rtd) Nashon Randiek.

“The team has been very disciplined and hard working. This was evident from their results at the recently concluded African Cup despite the challenges we faced, they deserve to represent the country at the Commonwealth Games. For that we are delighted to receive the news that they have indeed qualified, focus now shifts to adequate preparation.”

They become the second Kenyan women’s team after basketball 3x3 to book a ticket to the Games in which Kenya will be appearing for the 17th time.

“We are extremely elated to receive this information today. This comes at a time when the gender mainstreaming conversation is on a high gear in our sports fraternity and we acknowledge it plays a significant role in ensuring we get to where we want in as far as bridging the gender parity gap in sports representation and participation is concerned. More women’s team qualifying will ensure equal gender representation, and as a NOC we’d like to achieve this in every major games,” said Francis Mutuku, NOC-K Secretary General.