# Field hockey at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament

The women's field hockey tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics was the 8th edition of the field hockey event for women at the Summer Olympic Games. It was held over a thirteen-day period beginning on 10 August, and culminating with the medal finals on 22 August. All games were played at the hockey field constructed on the Olympic Green in Beijing, China.
The Netherlands won the gold medal for the second time after defeating the hosts China 2–0 in the final. Argentina won the bronze medal by defeating the defending champions Germany 3–1.

## Competition format

The twelve teams in the tournament were divided into two pools of six, with each team initially playing round-robin games within its respective pool. Following the completion of the round-robin, the top two teams from each pool advanced to the semifinals. All other teams played classification matches to determine the final tournament rankings. The two semi-final winners met for the gold medal match, while the semi-final losers played in the bronze medal match.

## Qualification

Each of the continental champions from five federations and the hosts China received an automatic berth. The European federation received two extra quotas, while Oceanian received one extra quota, based upon the FIH World Rankings at the completion of the 2006 World Cup. In addition to the three teams qualifying through the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, the following twelve teams, shown with final pre-tournament rankings, competed in this tournament.
| Dates | Event | Location | Quotas | Qualifier(s) |
| Host nation | Host nation | Host nation | 1 | China (5) |
| 2–14 December 2006 | 2006 Asian Games | Doha, Qatar | 1 | Japan (6) |
| 14–22 July 2007 | 2007 African Olympic Qualifier | Nairobi, Kenya | 1 | South Africa (12) |
| 14–29 July 2007 | 2007 Pan American Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 1 | Argentina (2) |
| 18–25 August 2007 | 2007 EuroHockey Nations Championship | Manchester, England | 3 | Germany (3) Netherlands (1) Great Britain (10) |
| 10–17 September 2007 | 2007 Oceania Cup | Buderim, Australia | 2 | New Zealand (7) Australia (4) |
| 12–20 April 2008 | Olympic Qualifying Tournament 1 | Baku, Azerbaijan | 1 | Spain (8) |
| 19–27 April 2008 | Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2 | Kazan, Russia | 1 | United States (11) |
| 26 April – 4 May 2008 | Olympic Qualifying Tournament 3 | Victoria, Canada | 1 | South Korea (9) |
| Total | Total | Total | 8 | |
    ^1 – China qualified both as host and continental champion, therefore that quota was given to the Asian federation allowing Japan to qualify directly to the 2008 Summer Olympics as the second-placed team at the 2006 Asian Games.

## Umpires

Fifteen umpires for the women's event were appointed by the FIH. During each match, a video umpire was used to assist the on-field umpires in determining if a goal had been legally scored.
* Julie Ashton-Lucy (AUS)
* Stella Bartlema (NED)
* Ute Conen (GER)
* Marelize de Klerk (RSA)
* Carolina de la Fuente (ARG)
* Sarah Garnett (NZL)
* Soledad Iparraguirre (ARG)
* Lee Keum-ju (KOR)
* Anne McRae (GBR)
* Carol Metchette (IRL)
* Miao Lin (CHN)
* Lisa Roach (AUS)
* Chieko Soma (JPN)
* Gina Spitaleri (ITA)
* Minka Woolley (AUS)

## Results

All times are China Standard Time (UTC+08:00)

### First round
#### Pool A

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| Netherlands | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | +11 | 15 | Advanced to semifinals |
| China | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 4 | +10 | 10 | Advanced to semifinals |
| Australia | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 9 | +8 | 10 | |
| Spain | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 12 | −8 | 6 | |
| South Korea | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 18 | −5 | 3 | |
| South Africa | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 18 | −16 | 0 | |
* 10 August 2008 10:30
| China | 3–0 | Spain |
| Fu Baorong 17' Li Hongxia 31' Gao Lihua 37' | Report | |
* Umpires: Ute Conen (GER) Marelize de Clerk (RSA)
* 10 August 2008 18:00
| Australia | 5–4 | South Korea |
| Liddelow 25', 50' Hudson 47' Young 56' Eastham 65' | Report | Kim Mi-sun 18' Kim Da-rae 27' Gim Sung-hee 32' Park Mi-hyun 34' |
* Umpires: Soledad Iparruguirre (ARG) Stella Bartlema (NED)
* 10 August 2008 20:30
| Netherlands | 6–0 | South Africa |
| Mulder 5' Agliotti 27' Paumen 46', 58' Booij 56' Dijkstra 66' | Report | |
* Umpires: Lisa Roach (AUS) Carolina de la Fuente (ARG)
* 12 August 2008 10:30
| Australia | 6–1 | Spain |
| Lambert 27', 60' Hudson 47' Eastham 54' Halliday 66' Rivers 70' | Report | Muñoz 6' |
* Umpires: Chieko Soma (JPN) Miao Lin (CHN)
* 12 August 2008 18:30
| China | 3–0 | South Africa |
| Tang Chunling 6' Fu Baorong 33' Zhao Yudiao 40' | Report | |
* Umpires: Gina Spitaleri (ITA) Minka Woolley (AUS)
* 12 August 2008 20:30
| Netherlands | 3–2 | South Korea |
| Paumen 3', 55' Schopman 7' | Report | Lee Seon-ok 4', 39' |
* Umpires: Julie Ashton-Lucy (AUS) Ute Conen (GER)
* 14 August 2008 08:30
| China | 0–1 | Netherlands |
| | Report | Paumen 21' |
* Umpires: Chieko Soma (JPN) Soledad Iparruguirre (ARG)
* 14 August 2008 18:00
| Spain | 2–1 | South Korea |
| Camón 8' Sanchez 22' | Report | Kim Jong-eun 37' |
* Umpires: Anne McRae (GBR) Sarah Garnett (NZL)
* 14 August 2008 20:30
| South Africa | 0–3 | Australia |
| | Report | Hudson 10' Lambert 44' Eastham 62' |
* Umpires: Carol Metchette (IRL) Ute Conen (GER)
* 16 August 2008 10:30
| Australia | 1–2 | Netherlands |
| Young 17' | Report | Paumen 20', 46' |
* Umpires: Sarah Garnett (NZL) Marelize de Klerk (RSA)
* 16 August 2008 18:30
| South Korea | 1–6 | China |
| Lee Seon-ok 53' | Report | Tang Chunling 30', 33', 41' Fu Baorong 39', 40', 64' |
* Umpires: Julie Ashton-Lucy (AUS) Carolina de la Fuente (ARG)
* 16 August 2008 21:00
| Spain | 1–0 | South Africa |
| Romagosa 31' | Report | |
* Umpires: Lee Keum-ju (KOR) Gina Spitaleri (ITA)
* 18 August 2008 10:30
| South Korea | 5–2 | South Africa |
| Gim Sung-hee 6' Lee Seon-ok 23', 29' Park Mi-hyun 32' Kim Eun-sil 58' | Report | Hector 51' Vida Ryan 66' |
* Umpires: Stella Bartlema (NED) Carol Metchette (IRL)
* 18 August 2008 18:30
| Netherlands | 2–0 | Spain |
| Paumen 22' Hoog 69' | Report | |
* Umpires: Soledad Iparraguirre (ARG) Minka Woolley (AUS)
* 18 August 2008 21:00
| China | 2–2 | Australia |
| Li Hongxia 30', 38' | Report | Eastham 51' Young 62' |
* Umpires: Chieko Soma (JPN) Carolina de la Fuente (ARG)

#### Pool B

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| Germany | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 12 | Advanced to semifinals |
| Argentina | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 7 | +6 | 11 | Advanced to semifinals |
| Great Britain | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 8 | |
| United States | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 6 | |
| Japan | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 4 | |
| New Zealand | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 13 | −7 | 0 | |
* 10 August 2008 08:30
| Japan | 2–1 | New Zealand |
| Morimoto 12' Tsukui 17' | Report | Claxton 25' |
* Umpires: Lee Keum-ju (KOR) Minka Woolley (AUS)
* 10 August 2008 18:30
| Argentina | 2–2 | United States |
| Rebecchi 5', 11' | Report | Smith 18' Loy 64' |
* Umpires: Julie Ashton-Lucy (AUS) Carol Metchette (IRL)
* 10 August 2008 21:00
| Germany | 5–1 | Great Britain |
| Rinne 26', 52' Hoffmann 31', 49' Rodewald 60' | Report | Cullen 29' |
* Umpires: Sarah Garnett (NZL) Miao Lin (CHN)
* 12 August 2008 08:30
| Argentina | 2–2 | Great Britain |
| García 10' Gulla 27' | Report | Thomas 49' Clewlow 51' |
* Umpires: Marelize de Klerk (RSA) Stella Bartlema (NED)
* 12 August 2008 18:00
| United States | 1–1 | Japan |
| Barber 58' | Report | Chiba 12' |
* Umpires: Sarah Garnett (NZL) Lisa Roach (AUS)
* 12 August 2008 21:00
| Germany | 2–1 | New Zealand |
| Scholz 59' Kühn 69' | Report | Forgesson 31' |
* Umpires: Anne McRae (GBR) Soledad Iparruguirre (ARG)
* 14 August 2008 10:30
| United States | 2–4 | Germany |
| Snow 27' Loy 60' | Report | Keller 34' Rinne 49' Rodewald 55' Kühn 64' |
* Umpires: Lee Keum-ju (KOR) Marelize de Klerk (RSA)
* 14 August 2008 18:30
| Japan | 1–2 | Argentina |
| Miura 64' | Report | Gulla 38' Burkart 51' |
* Umpires: Miao Lin (CHN) Gina Spitaleri (ITA)
* 14 August 2008 21:00
| New Zealand | 1–2 | Great Britain |
| Flynn 28' | Report | Danson 31' Cullen 50' |
* Umpires: Julie Ashton-Lucy (AUS) Carolina de la Fuente (ARG)
* 16 August 2008 08:30
| New Zealand | 1–4 | United States |
| Galletly 37' | Report | Smith 1', 42' Loy 12' Bashore 47' |
* Umpires: Stella Bartlema (NED) Anne McRae (GBR)
* 16 August 2008 18:00
| Germany | 0–4 | Argentina |
| | Report | Burkart 38' Gulla 49', 66' Aymar 68' |
* Umpires: Lisa Roach (AUS) Chieko Soma (JPN)
* 16 August 2008 20:30
| Great Britain | 2–1 | Japan |
| Panter 32' Cullen 70' | Report | Miura 58' |
* Umpires: Minka Woolley (AUS) Carol Metchette (IRL)
* 18 August 2008 08:30
| Germany | 1–0 | Japan |
| Beermann 40' | Report | |
* Umpires: Julie Ashton-Lucy (AUS) Miao Lin (CHN)
* 18 August 2008 18:00
| Great Britain | 0–0 | United States |
| | Report | |
* Umpires: Ute Conen (GER) Lisa Roach (AUS)
* 18 August 2008 20:30
| Argentina | 3–2 | New Zealand |
| Rebecchi 15' García 43' Hernández 46' | Report | Roberts 33' Igasan 61' |
* Umpires: Gina Spitaleri (ITA) Marelize de Klerk (RSA)

### Fifth to twelfth place classification
#### Eleventh and twelfth place

* 22 August 2008 08:30
| South Africa | 4–1 | New Zealand |
| Marescia 14' Wilson 34' Vida Ryan 51' Brown 59' | Report | Flynn 17' |
* Umpires: Lee Keum-ju (KOR) Carol Metchette (IRL)

#### Ninth and tenth place

* 20 August 2008 08:30
| South Korea | 2–1 | Japan |
| Park Jeong-sook 12', 49' | Report | Komazawa 43' |
* Umpires: Gina Spitaleri (ITA) Lisa Roach (AUS)

#### Seventh and eighth place

* 20 August 2008 11:00
| Spain | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | United States |
| Termens 8' Huertas 68' Ybarra 84' | Report | Sensenig 30' Loy 59' |
* Umpires: Minka Woolley (AUS) Ute Conen (GER)

#### Fifth and sixth place

* 22 August 2008 11:00
| Australia | 2–0 | Great Britain |
| Blyth 29' Munro 68' | Report | |
* Umpires: Sarah Garnett (NZL) Miao Lin (CHN)

### Medal round

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Gold medal match | Gold medal match |
| 20 August | 20 August |
| Germany | 2 |
| Germany | 2 | 22 August | 22 August |
| China | 3 | 22 August | 22 August |
| China | 3 | China | 0 |
| 20 August | 20 August | | China | 0 |
| 20 August | 20 August | Netherlands | 2 |
| Netherlands | 5 | Netherlands | 2 |
| Argentina | 2 | | |
| Argentina | 2 | Bronze medal match | Bronze medal match |
| | | 22 August | 22 August |
| | | Germany | 1 |
| | | Argentina | 3 |

#### Semi-finals

* 20 August 2008 18:00
| Germany | 2–3 | China |
| Keller 4' Beermann 36' | Report | Gao Lihua 31' Ma Yibo 39' Zhao Yudiao 58' |
* Umpires: Carolina de la Fuente (ARG) Julie Ashton-Lucy (AUS)
* 20 August 2008 20:30
| Netherlands | 5–2 | Argentina |
| Paumen 9', 25', 47' Agliotti 31' Hoog 68' | Report | Russo 59' Gulla 69' |
* Umpires: Marelize de Klerk (RSA) Sarah Garnett (NZL)

#### Bronze medal match

* 22 August 2008 18:00
| Germany | 1–3 | Argentina |
| Kühn 45' | Report | Luchetti 11' Rebecchi 22' Barrionuevo 63' |
* Umpires: Julie Ashton-Lucy (AUS) Marelize de Klerk (RSA)

#### Gold medal match

* 22 August 2008 20:30
| China | 0–2 | Netherlands |
| | Report | Van As 51' Goderie 62' |
* Umpires: Soledad Iparraguirre (ARG) Carolina de la Fuente (ARG)

## Final standings

As per statistical convention in field hockey, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Final result |
| | Netherlands | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 5 | +16 | 21 | Gold Medal |
| | China (H) | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 8 | +9 | 13 | Silver Medal |
| | Argentina | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 13 | +5 | 14 | Bronze Medal |
| 4 | Germany | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 14 | +1 | 12 | Fourth place |
| 5 | Australia | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 9 | +10 | 13 | Eliminated in group stage |
| 6 | Great Britain | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 11 | −4 | 8 | Eliminated in group stage |
| 7 | Spain | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 14 | −7 | 9 | Eliminated in group stage |
| 8 | United States | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 6 | Eliminated in group stage |
| 9 | South Korea | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 19 | −4 | 6 | Eliminated in group stage |
| 10 | Japan | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 4 | Eliminated in group stage |
| 11 | South Africa | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 19 | −13 | 3 | Eliminated in group stage |
| 12 | New Zealand | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 17 | −10 | 0 | Eliminated in group stage |

## Goalscorers

There were 149 goals scored in 38 matches, for an average of 3.92 goals per match.
11 goals
* Maartje Paumen
5 goals
* Alejandra Gulla
* Fu Baorong
* Lee Seon-ok
4 goals
* Carla Rebecchi
* Casey Eastham
* Tang Chunling
* Angela Loy
3 goals
* Nicole Hudson
* Angela Lambert
* Sarah Young
* Li Hongxia
* Crista Cullen
* Anke Kühn
* Fanny Rinne
* Keli Smith
2 goals
* Claudia Burkart
* Soledad García
* Mariné Russo
* Shelly Liddelow
* Gao Lihua
* Janine Beermann
* Eileen Hoffmann
* Natascha Keller
* Marion Rodewald
* Keiko Miura
* Gim Sung-hee
* Park Jeong-sook
* Park Mi-hyun
* Marilyn Agliotti
* Ellen Hoog
* Gemma Flynn
* Vida Ryan
1 goal
* Luciana Aymar
* Noel Barrionuevo
* Rosario Luchetti
* Madonna Blyth
* Emily Halliday
* Hope Munro
* Megan Rivers
* Ma Yibo
* Song Qingling
* Zhao Yudiao
* Melanie Clewlow
* Alexandra Danson
* Anne Panter
* Sarah Thomas
* Katharina Scholz
* Kaori Chiba
* Rika Komazawa
* Sakae Morimoto
* Toshie Tsukui
* Kim Da-rae
* Kim Eun-sil
* Kim Jong-eun
* Kim Mi-sun
* Naomi van As
* Minke Booij
* Wieke Dijkstra
* Maartje Goderie
* Eefke Mulder
* Janneke Schopman
* Jaimee Claxton
* Krystal Forgesson
* Joanne Galletly
* Elizabeth Igasan
* Niniwa Roberts
* Cindy Brown
* Kate Hector
* Marsha Marescia
* Jennifer Wilson
* Núria Camón
* Raquel Huertas
* Silvia Muñoz
* María Romagosa
* Pilar Sánchez
* Esther Termens
* Rocío Ybarra
* Kate Barber
* Kayla Bashore
* Dana Sensenig
* Tiffany Snow
Source: FIH