Women’s Hockey second team sport to qualify for Commonwealth Games

The national women’s hockey team has qualified for the Commonwealth Games, becoming the second team from Kenya to confirm their ticket to Birmingham.

They become the second Kenya women’s team after Basketball 3x3 to book a ticket to the Games in which Kenya will be appearing for the 17th time.

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) stated that they have been informed in writing by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) that the African bronze medallists have qualified.

“Qualification in hockey is based on FIH World Ranking, with the Kenya women’s team ranked 3rd in Africa behind South Africa and Ghana. Kenya now joins their counterparts, Ghana to compete at the Commonwealth Games, the two nations having received reallocation slots that were not taken up by the top internationally ranked teams,’ explained Kenya Hockey Union President, Col (Rtd) Nashon Randiek.

“We are extremely elated to receive this information today. This comes at a time when the gender mainstreaming conversation is on a high gear in our sports fraternity and we acknowledge it plays a significant role in ensuring we get to where we want in as far as bridging the gender parity gap in sports representation and participation is concerned. More women’s team qualifying will ensure equal gender representation, and as a NOC we’d like to achieve this in every major games,” said Francis Mutuku, NOC-K Secretary General.

Other women teams still on the qualification path are beach volleyball who will be heading for their qualifiers from the 25th through the 29th of March in Accra, Ghana. The Rugby 7s Women’s team are also expected to participate in a regional qualifying tournament before 30th April 2022.

The hockey program will have 10 men’s and 10 women’s teams contesting on every single day of Birmingham 2022 at the University of Birmingham from the 29th July to 8th August 2022.