Both Pakistan and Korea finished sixth in the 1999 Champions Trophy in Brisbane and would, therefore, not normally qualify for the tournament next year.

The Federation Internationale de Hockey (FIH) decided to include Pakistan men and South Korea women, recognising the importance of hockey in Asia. But the decision is now being studied on the face of few difficulties.

On whether the FIH council's decision could actually be implemented, the council acknowledged that it could only be accomplished if the move did not place undue financial and administrative hardship on the host, the Netherlands and on participating teams.

The council meeting in Alexandria (Egypt) also decided on groupings for both men and women qualifying tournaments for the Sydney Olympics.

India in tough group
INDIAN womenhave been drawn in a difficult Group A alongwith Germany, Spain, Ireland and US, while Group B consists of China, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand and Russia. The qualifying events are slated to be held from March 24-April 2, 2000, in Milton Keynes, England.

The four Asian mens teams in the men's qualifying event, scheduled from March 9-20, 2000 in Osaka (Japan) have been drawn in two different groups. Japan and Korea are clubbed with Belgium, Great Britain, New Zealand and Poland in Group A, while Malaysia and Pakistan are in Group B with Argentina, Belarus, Spain and Switzerland.

The top six men's teams and five women's squads from these qualifying events will earn a spot at the Sydney Olympics.

Teams that have already earned the berth for the Olympics in the men's section are South Africa (seventh All African Games winner): Australia (host country and winner of second Oceania Cup); Canada (winner of 13th Pan American Games); Germany (winner of eighth European Cup), India (winner of 13th Asian Games)and the Netherlands (1996 Atlanta Olympic champions).

Women's section: South Africa (winner of seventh All African Games); Argentina (winner of 13th Pan American Games); Korea: (winner of 13th Asian Games); Australia (host, winner of 1996 Atlanta Olympics, winner of second Oceania Cup) the Netherlands (winner of fifth European Nations Cup).

The FIH council has confirmed venues for the following world-level tournaments: Netherlands (ninth women's Champions Trophy 2001); England (25th men's and 11th women's Champions Trophy in 2003), Zimbabwe (second men's and women's Champions Challenge Cup in 2003).

Pak request turned down
LAHORE: Pakistan's plea not to shift the Fifth Asia Cup from Lahore to Kuala Lumpur had been rejected because seven countries expressed their reservations about security arrangements.