China to be on a tough way for medals in Olympic women's hockey tourney

BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- China's women hockey team will be on a tough way to struggle for medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympic women's hockey tournament since it has been put in a tough group as the official draw was completed here Tuesday evening.

China, ranked fifth in the world, will meet the world No. 1 the Netherlands, Sydney Olympic champion Australia and tough rival South Korea in Group A, which also includes South Africa.

China's women hockey team, aiming for a medal in the Olympic Games, has to win the top two in the group to ensure its entry into the next round.

Twelve teams qualified for the Olympic Games -- China, the Netherlands, Argentina, South Korea, Spain, the United States, New Zealand, Britain, Australia, South Africa, Germany and Japan -- were split into two groups, A and B.

The top two teams in each pool will progress to the knockout rounds for the medals, while the teams at the third and fourth place in each pool will compete for the final No. 5-8. The last two teams in each pool can only compete for the No. 9-12.

The Olympic women's hockey tourney will be on Aug. 10-22. The tickets for the tourney have been sold out.