01 November 2019

Head coach of GB hockey women says they must create their "own legacy" ahead of Olympic qualifier

GB women's hockey head coach Mark Hagar has called for the reigning Olympic champions side to "create their own legacy" in their last chance to secure a place for Tokyo 2020. 

The women face World No 18 side Chile in a two-legged tie this weekend on home turf. The team with the highest aggregate score across both games will seal a qualification spot for the Tokyo Olympic Games next summer. 

Hagar told BBC Sport: "People look at this team as though it's the team that won in Rio and it's not. There are only seven of those women still in the team.

"It's a new side and a new era and they've got to create their own legacy going forwards."

The current side have never faced Chile before. The seven players included in the GB squad and who were part of the 2016 Rio team include World No 1 goalkeeper Maddie Hinch, Giselle Ansley, Shona McCallin, Lily Owsley, Susannah Townsend, Laura Unsworth and captain Hollie Pearne-Webb.

The team won only three of their 16 matches finishing near bottom of the table during their FIH Pro League campaign in the summer.

Two months later they suffered an 8-0 thrashing against the Netherlands in the European Championship semi-final. 

The two-legged tie will take place on Saturday and Sunday at Lee Valley in London. 

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