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Hosts Russia hit the winning ways, coasting past Egypt 3-0. Penalty corner expert Dmitry Azarov struck twice in the first half before he added another in the second half to complete his hat-trick as the 20th ranked side emerged 3-0 winners.
Japan – the top ranked side (16) in the fourth and final men’s FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Round 2 tournament – began their campaign on a bright note, drubbing Ukraine 5-1 in Elektrostal, Russia.
They struck twice in the first half through Shinji Kawauchi. Koshi Yamabe and Manabu Hatakeyama added two more in the second half before Ukraine reduced the margin converting a penalty corner in the 64th minute. Hatakeyama rounded off the tally for Japan to help his side post a facile win.
In another match, Austria sailed past Czeck Republic 4-0. Michael Körper gave the Austrians the lead converting a penalty stroke before Dominik Monghy doubled the advantage.
Captain Benny Stanzl whipped home a penalty corner in the 41st minute before Körper rattled the cage in the dying moments for a 4-0 win.
The winner of the fourth and final men’s FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Round 2 tournament will join Olympic champions Germany, Asian giants South Korea and Argentina in Pool A of the second semi-final to be held at Johor Bahru.
The Pool B of the Johor Bahru event would comprise England, South Africa, Pakistan and hosts Malaysia.
The team finishing second in the fourth and final men’s FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Round 2 tournament in Elektrostal would join Olympic bronze medallists Australia, Belgium and Spain in Pool A in the first semi-final to be held at Rotterdam.
The Pool B of the Rotterdam event features hosts and Olympic silver medallists the Netherlands, India, New Zealand and Ireland.
Earlier, Belgium and hosts France qualified for the semi-final stage from the third FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Round 2 tournament held in Saint-Germain near Paris,
10th ranked Argentina and 12th ranked South Africa qualified from the second FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Round 2 tournament held in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).
9th ranked India and 15th ranked Ireland made it to the Hockey World League (HWL) semi-finals from the first FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Round 2 tournament held in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, the two women’s HWL semi-finals would be held in Rotterdam and London.
The first women’s semi-final at Rotterdam would see Pool A featuring hosts Netherlands, South Korea, Japan and Chile. Pool B would feature India, Germany, New Zealand and Belgium.
The second semi-final at London would feature world champions Argentina, China, US and Italy in Pool A. Pool B comprises hosts England, Australia, Spain and South Africa.
South Africa and Belgium made it to the semi-finals from the first women’s FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Round 2 tournament held in Cape Town.
India and Japan made it to the semi-finals from the second women’s FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Round 2 tournament held in New Delhi.
Spain and Italy made the cut from the third women’s FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Round 2 tournament held in Valencia.
United States and Chile qualified from the fourth and final women’s FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Round 2 tournament held in Rio de Janeiro.
