Chinese Eves Hope to Replicate Olympic Success in 2024-25 Pro League
China women’s hockey team under celebrated Australian coach Alyson Annan made all and sundry sit up and take notice of them at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a monumental silver-medal finish losing to the mighty Netherlands by virtue of a shootout and even took the lead and held the lead for most part of the final contest. The world number six side would launch their Pro League in their own backyard at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Stadium, Hangzhou against the likes of world number three Belgium and world number seven England in the first lot of Pro League for the 2024-25 edition.
Read Wagener Stadium Awaits Exciting Pro League Action Among World Hockey’s Who’s Who!
Interestingly, the Chinese eves locked horns with Belgium at the 2024 Paris Olympics – the Asian powerhouse lost the pool tie narrowly 1-2 but delivered when it mattered, pulling off a fighting 3-2 shootout win after both teams were locked 1-1 in regulation time. China women’s hockey team is expected to be at full-strength with the presence of FIH Goalkeeper of the Year awardee Ye Jiao, drag-flicker and two-time Olympian Gu Bingfeng, Zhang Ying and the forward duo of Zhong Jiaqi and Xu Wenyu. It may be noting that Chinese eves fielded a second-string side at the 8th Asian Champions Trophy at Rajgir but was still able to attain a runners-up finish.
Read Stats Talk: Alyson Annan’s Win-Loss Record as China Eves Coach
Belgium on their part, has really grown in stature over the last four-five years and would be looking to build on their maiden Olympic semifinal appearance at Paris. The red brigade can owe a lot of their success to coach Raoul Ehren, who has moulded them into a fighting unit and has quit his job after the Paris Olympics, taking up the role of the Netherlands women’s team coach, replacing Paul Van Ass, who stepped aside after the Paris Olympics.
England would be keyed up to set aside the disappointing memories of their quarterfinal exit in the 2024 Paris Olympics and subsequently settling for the eight-place finish where they had played as Great Britain. Great Britain also did not have a great Pro League campaign in the 2023-24 edition, finishing seventh. The Pro League campaign would be significant for newly-appointed England and Great Britain coach David Ralph, who replaced illustrious Australian Mark Hager, who has taken up the coach role of the Australian men’s hockey team.
The Gongshu Canal Sports Park Stadium at Hangzhou would greet high-octane hockey featuring one Asian powerhouse and two European sides.
