INVERCARGILL: New Zealand beat Malaysia 2-1 in the final of a six-nation qualifying tournament Sunday to win a spot at the 2010 men’s field hockey
World Cup in India.
Host New Zealand, ranked No. 8 in the world, was unbeaten at the tournament but had to come from behind to beat 16th-ranked Malaysia in a close final.
New Zealand had beaten Malaysia 4-2 in round-robin and finished the tournament with 30 goals and only six against. Malaysia’s only losses at the tournament were to New Zealand and it earned its final place with a 3-0 win over China.
Scotland, ranked No. 24, beat 13th-ranked China 7-5 in a penalty shootout Sunday to finish in third place while Austria beat Wales in a playoff for fifth.
The international field hockey federation was holding three seeded qualifying tournaments, with a spot at the World Cup starting Feb. 28 on offer for the winner of each. Four-time champion Pakistan beat Japan last week in France to advance. A third qualifying tournament was being held in Argentina.
India, Australia, Canada, England, Spain, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands and South Africa already had secured places at the 12-nation World Cup finals.