NEW DELHI, July 31: Six teams will join the World Cup line-up of the women's hockey scheduled for next year in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

The qualifying tournament at Harare's Magamba Stadium from August 1 to 12 will put an end to the suspense of the `Lucky Six,' for which 12 teams are in the fray.

The top six teams from the ninth Women's World Cup qualifier will join the other six that have already qualified Argentina, Olympic champions Australia, Germany, Korea, United States and hosts The Netherlands.India, after their impressive performance at the pre-qualifers at Port-of-Spain, have entered the tournament on a confident note and are strong contenders for a seat in the World Cup. India, Japan and China are the three teams in fray from Asia.

For the qualifiers, 12 teams are divided into two pools. In a tough Pool A, India are clubbed with Canada, England, Ireland, Japan and South Africa while China, New Zealand, Russia, Scotland, Spain and hosts Zimbabwe form Pool B.

Indian eves left on July 23 to play a warm-up series against Kenya before they could land at Harare. In Kenya, the Indian team won all the three matches they played against local sides.

Team

Tingoleima (GK), Helen Mary (GK), Sandeep Kaur, Shashi Bala (captain), Maristella Tirkey, Mukta Xalco, Sita Gossain, Sumrai Tete, Sunita Dalal, Nidhi Khullar, Manjinder Kaur, Pritam Thakran, Kamala Dalal, Suraj Lata Devi, Jyoti Kullu and Ferdina Ekka.

Chief coach: Balbir Singh. Assistant coach: CA Poonacha.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.