Indian Women’s Hockey’s much-awaited dream of acceding into Olympic games has ended at last. Indian Women’s Hockey team ended their thirty-six years long cherished wait to play in the Olympic games next year on Saturday  which was later confirmed by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). Indian Women’s Hockey played their last game in Olympics dating back to 1980 where they missed the bronze medal with a hairsbreadth finishing fourth.

Indian Women’s Hockey Team Qualifies for 2015 Rio Games

International Hockey Federation (FIH) stated “India qualified after England defeated Spain in the semi-finals of the Unibet EuroHockey Championships in London, which ensured that the only teams who can now win the event have already qualified for Rio through the Hockey World League Semi-Finals – Netherlands and England (as Great Britain)” on its official website.

FIH official website further stated that “The winner of the EuroHockey Championships will qualify for the 2016 Olympics as European continental champions, opening up a further qualification spot which India secure as the team who ranked highest at the Hockey World League Semi-Finals not already qualified.”

Congratulations to India women who qualified for @Rio2016 @Olympics: http://t.co/uTGXA9lWpz #RoadToRio #GoingToRio pic.twitter.com/vXxLhfgf9p

— FIH (@FIH_Hockey) August 28, 2015

After South Korea, Argentina, Great Britain, China, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and USA, Indian women hockey team is the 10th team to get qualified for the 2016 Rio Games. On the other hand Indian hockey men’s team has already qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games bringing in a hope for the medals.

Hockey India president Narinder Batra said “It is a proud moment for Hockey India and the whole country. We have been waiting for this for the last 36 years and this achievement is the sweetest and the most memorable among all our previous feats in recent times.”

A BIG & proud moment for India! Our Women’s team also qualify for the @Rio2016 Olympics. #IndiaKaGame #RoadToRio pic.twitter.com/NZJhUVjluS

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 28, 2015

He further added “I congratulate all the players and coaching staff who made this dream real and this achievement also shows their commitment toward their responsibilities. Hockey India thanks all the coaches who trained these players at their respective academies, parents, sponsors and the entire hockey fraternity, who continuously motivated the players and without their support, we could not have achieved this success. I am sure the girls will make us proud at the Olympics.”

Yet there is a slot for two more hockey teams for the 2016 Rio Games which are expected to be occupied by the two remaining continental championships to be held on November of this year. We congratulate Indian Men’s and Women’s for their achievement and wish they would return home with a medal.

Stay tuned with us more trending updates of sports by bookmarking us (pressing Ctrl+D) in your web browser for easy navigation.