The eagerly awaited FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2023/24 is fast approaching, commencing with the men’s tournament in Gniezno, Poland on 31st May and the women’s tournament in Terrassa, Spain on 3rd June. Both events will culminate on 9th June. As we prepare for this year’s competition, let us explore the statistics from the inaugural edition of the tournament, which took place in Potchefstroom, South Africa for the men’s tournament and Valencia, Spain for the women’s.
The men’s tournament in Potchefstroom was defined by a remarkable display of goal-scoring, with a total of 93 goals recorded in the 20 matches played, averaging at 4.65 goals per game. Notably, 56% of these goals (53) were scored from open play, with 38 coming from penalty corners and 3 from penalty strokes.
The Korean team emerged as the top-scoring team, registering 15 goals in their 5 games. Their captain, Jang Jonghyun, claimed the title of the leading goal scorer, contributing 7 goals from penalty corners. Additionally, Korea showcased exceptional defensive prowess, conceding only 4 goals throughout the tournament. Goalkeeper Jaehyeon Kim’s outstanding performance earned him the Best Goalkeeper award, solidifying his leadership role for the upcoming FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2023/24.
Furthermore, France secured a resounding 7-1 victory against Canada, marking the largest win in the competition. Victor Charlet, the second leading goal scorer, and Blaise Rogeau, who scored a hat-trick, were pivotal in this outstanding triumph. Both players are poised to make a significant impact in the forthcoming tournament.
Conversely, the women’s tournament underscored a strong emphasis on defensive capabilities. The finals for both the men’s and women’s tournaments unfolded in contrasting manners, with South Africa securing a 4-3 victory over Ireland in the men’s final and India triumphing over hosts Spain in a demanding 1-0 battle in the women’s final.
In the women’s tournament, a total of 50 goals were scored, averaging at 2.5 goals per game. Notably, 25 goals were scored from open play, with 23 coming from penalty corners and 2 from penalty strokes. Kathryn Mullan, the captain of Ireland, emerged as the top goal scorer with 3 goals in 5 games. India stood out as the top-scoring team, netting 9 goals across their 5 matches.
A particularly remarkable statistic from the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2022/23 was Spain’s exceptional defensive display, conceding only one goal throughout the tournament. Although they were defeated 1-0 by India in the final, courtesy of a Gurjit Kaur penalty corner, they showcased resolute defensive fortitude throughout the competition.
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For additional information regarding the upcoming FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2023/24 in Poland and Spain, please refer to the details provided here.