Head Coach Kevin Gettins has named Auckland based player Zoe Tolhopf and Hutt Valley’s Ashley Johnston to complete the 15 player White Sox team to seek Olympic qualification in Shanghai in September.

Coach Gettins named a 14 strong team earlier this year, and when outfielder Kelley Renner withdrew due to injury, two spots became available. 

The White Sox will depart on 14 September for Japan for a warm up tour before arriving in Shanghai on 22 September. The Olympic qualification tournament will be held from 24 – 29 September between eight teams from Oceania and Asia. Confirmed teams include:

Pool A: China, New Zealand, Philippines and Korea
Pool B: Chinese Taipei, Australia, Indonesia and Hong Kong

The Europe/Africa qualification tournament was won by Italy who have punched their ticket for Tokyo 2020.  The qualifier in Utrecht included the top softball nations across Europe and Africa, including Botswana, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa and Spain.

Italy joins host nation Japan and the 2018 WBSC Softball World Champions, USA, as the first three nations qualified for the six-team Tokyo 2020 Olympic softball competition.

The remaining three nations will be determined at the next two WBSC Softball qualifiers. Two nations from the WBSC Softball Americas Qualifier will advance to the Olympic Games. Twelve nations will compete in the Americas qualifier, which will be held in Surrey, Canada, from 25 August to 1 September.

The winner of the eight-team WBSC Softball Asia/Oceania Qualifier will complete the field at Tokyo 2020. This intercontinental qualifier will be held in Shanghai, China, from 24-28 September.

Softball will have the honour of kicking off next year’s Olympic Games on 22 July with special opening games at Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium.

New Zealand White Sox team to compete at the Shanghai Olympic Qualifier:
Zoe Tolhopf, Krysta Hoani, Kingsley Avery, Jennifer Feret-Brear (Auckland), Rita Hokianga , Melanie Gettins (Hawkes Bay), Lara Andrews, Ashley Johnston (Hutt Valley), Mereana Makea (Wellington), Mikayla Werahiko (Canterbury), Ancelle van Molendorff (Brisbane/Auckland), Courtney Gettins (Alabama/Hawkes Bay), Stefanie Smith, Hailey Breakwell (California, USA), Pallas Potter (Florida/Hutt Valley)


Best,
Glen

 

 

Glen Roff - Softball Manager

Softball New Zealand

m: 021537082 | p: 04 5600389

 

 

 

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