Former champions India have been handed an easy draw in the men’s hockey qualifiers for the Olympics.
The International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) draw revealed India, hosts of the qualifiers, will play teams ranked lower than them in the first of three qualifying events.
India, who have won the the Olympic Gold medal in hockey eight times, could not qualify for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
But their hopes for the 2012 Games have brightened after being clubbed with the likes of Canada, France, Poland, Egypt and the United States in the tournament to be played in New Delhi from February 15-26.
Meanwhile, South Korea will play Malaysia, Ireland, Russia, Chile and Ukraine in Dublin from March 10-18 and Spain clash with Japan, China, Austria, the Czech Republic and Cuba in the third qualifying tournament in the Japanese city of Kakamigahara from April 25-May 6.
The winner of each tournament will join Germany, hosts Britain, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa, who have already qualified for London 2012.
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