Sentiment against N.Z.

Press, 29 October 1987, Page 48

Sentiment against N.Z.

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KEVIN TUTTY

SMufaent played a significant part la the New Zealand , men’s hotkey team being excluded from the Olympic tournament In SpeMiJsext War, Mr ’-Brian Bremner, New daalaod’s delegate at thefaforaattonal Hockey Federation's ategftog in Brussels tbie niottitL amid the Inclusion of InSa, for sentimental at ’Trhew^K'£l!ilne feeling that an Oympic hockey tournamiirt WKbout» -India ,*didd be straaas, and deMattos obvlouky wanted? ito keeo *M? BresnhSßn: dr• iuw* *—. > The strong Asian contingent at the meeting naturally voted for India .when the list of teams was selected. t The Europeans also voted for the list, which favoured the Eiyopean

teams — Spain and Poland have to play off for the last place — and -Australia did nothing tow .dlppbrt New Zealand'S case, said Mr. Bremner. Two years ago the federation outlined selection criteria for the Olympics, but they had not stuck to the criteria when selecting the teams for the Zealand would have been among'the 12 sMm. Considerable ; weight .-wasgiven to the results of ; theWorid Cup in Loodpn taut veer. At that totarnamomNew zeaiwd/fi» Isbed * ninth and Brat Indie, «-i, in aclaeuifkntioa match. India eventually finished twelfth and last at the tournament The rankings for the Olympics were also - a puzzle to Mr Bremner. "India Is ranked eleventh and It’s incredible to see

Canada and Kenya ranked above India." There were two other / factors which combmodfo : foil New Zealand's chance of selection. ‘ There aroWrihally.two places tot Asian teams at filled by India and Paklsyear, however, South Korea da the host, gets one of those postpone, automatically, andthii puts ladfa: 1 Into the struggle /for the last few - places. ' The winner of the Pan ■ America*! - Gamine in Auxust was also assured of autoifjatlc entry. Argentina was expected to win that title, but was upset by Canada in the final. New Zealand has never, lost to Canada and was confident of selection ahead of the Canadians In a battle for

Argentina though -was selected ahead of New Zealand, apparently beZ ; cause it finished- sixth at > the World Cup, even though it fags not- beaten New Zealand in the last three years/ ’’New Zealand paid for lip ninth place at the WBMdXtap and we have to ■ otturo in the future that we avoid those Battles « the last few pieces.’' ■ Mr Bom&r said - bft- i would ask the 1.0. C. to set wsssig: - m Ou irony that he accepted at the Brussels meeting,- a miniature of a trophy won by the Now Zeeland men’s team at the World > Cup in Bombay in 1982. The trophy was the Fair Play Cup.