Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Rio beckons for Townsend
Hockey
Susannah Townsend helped Great Britain’s women secure qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with their performance at the World League in Valencia last weekend.
Progression through to the final of the competition – which came courtesy of a 1-0 win over Germany – was enough to book their place in Brazil next year but the side then went on to win the tournament with a 2-0 victory against China.
Townsend came off the bench in both games as the bronze medallists from London 2012 ensured they will be able to defend their medal in South America.
The Canterbury midfielder played in every game as Great Britain won all seven of their matches in Valencia, which also included the team’s first victory over Argentina since the 1996 Olympic Games.
Great Britain swept through the group stage with victories over Spain ( 2- 0), Argentina (2-0), Canada (4-2) and China (2-0) before eliminating South Africa in the quarter- finals with another 2-0 success. Lily Owsley’s seventh-minute goal proved to be decisive in their 1-0 semi - f inal triumph over Germany with a typical resolute defensive performance paving the way to Olympic qualification.
The Commonwealth silver medallists conceded only two goals throughout the tournament.
Another clean sheet was kept in the final, as Great Britain beat China thanks to penalty corner goals from Hollie Webb and Alex Danson.
Townsend tweeted after her side had confirmed their qualification: “Get in!!!!! We @_GBHockey women have qualified for Rio! @ Investec_Sport @adidas_Hockey #HWL2015 #RIO”.
If the side hadn’t progressed through to the World League final, they would have had a chance to qualify at the 2015 Unibet EuroHockey Championships, which they are hosting at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in August.