Zimbabwe’s Under-21 women’s hockey team will now compete in the upcoming FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup in Santiago, Chile, following a timely intervention by the government. The tournament runs from December 1 to 13 and features 24 teams from around the world.
The team had initially withdrawn on Friday due to financial challenges. However, the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture stepped in to cover the costs, reversing the decision and allowing the young athletes to represent Zimbabwe on the global stage.
Zimbabwe earned their spot in the tournament by finishing third at the Junior Africa Cup in Namibia in April. For the first time in the event’s history, the Junior World Cup will feature 24 teams instead of 16. Zimbabwe has been drawn in Pool B alongside Argentina, Belgium, and Wales.
The withdrawal had previously been communicated through a letter signed by Hockey Association of Zimbabwe President Grant Campbell. The government’s intervention has been widely praised for ensuring that the country’s young women will have the opportunity to compete at the highest level.
–ChannelAfrica–
