adminAFTER months of intense preparations, Zimbabwe begin their Hockey Junior Women’s World Cup campaign in Chile on Thursday.This will be Zimbabwe’s third appearance at the tournament, after participating at the inaugural edition hosted by Canada in 1989 and Chile in 2005.The young ladies team, who left the country yesterday, return to Chile hoping to improve the country’s record at the World Cup where they finished last at their two other appearances.Zimbabwe finished 12th in 1989 and 16th in 2005.The team has been placed in Pool A alongside South Korea, the United States and The Netherlands.
The Sunday Mail Sport’s Brighton Zhawi takes a closer look at Zimbabwe’s opponents in the pool stage.
United States
The Americans will be Zimbabwe’s first opponents on the competition’s opening day, November 24.The US has made six appearances at the tournament and are yet to win it. Their best finishes came in the 2005 and 2013 editions, where they finished 7th on both occasions.
South Korea
This will be a tough encounter for Zimbabwe in their second pool match on November 25.
The Koreans are the second-most successful team at the Hockey Junior Women’s World Cup with two titles won in 2001 and 2005.They were also runners-up in 1989 and finished third in the 2009 edition.
The Netherlands
After the clash against South Korea, Zimbabwe rounds off its preliminary round fixtures with a tie against the Dutch ladies on November 27.
The Netherlands are currently the most successful team at this level.
The Dutch have three World Cup titles, won in the 1997, 2009 and 2013 editions of the competition. They have never been runners-up, but finished third the last time they were in Chile (2005).After the pool matches Zimbabwe will either play in the knock-out stages or compete in the position-placing games.
Online Reporter