Hope still persists – India fifth, Germany tops world hockey rankings
Sayeed Yavar Imam, Special Correspondent
December 20, 2004

Tough India was routed, there are hopes. India after all ranked fifth out of the top ten nation just behind Germany, Australia, Holland and Pakistan. With a little push India can again conquer the top of the Hockey world.

India hung on to the fifth place in world rankings despite finishing outside the medal bracket in the recent Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Lahore.

World champions Germany, who survived the relegation in the elite six-nation championship by the skin of their teeth, went one position up to replace Australia at the top. The Olympic champions paid the price for skipping the meet as they came one step down to the second spot followed by Holland, Pakistan and India, an International Hockey Federation release said. 

Spain, who won the title in Lahore, and New Zealand improved their rankings by one place to be at sixth and eighth positions respectively. Asian powerhouse Korea were at the seventh spot. In the women's section Holland were on top followed by Argentina and Australia. 

Rankings: 

Men: 

1. Germany, 2. Australia, 3. Holland, 4. Pakistan, 5. India, 6. Spain, 7. Korea, 8. New Zealand, 9. England, 10. Argentina. 

Women: 

1. Holland, 2. Argentina, 3. Australia, 4. China, 5. Germany, 6. New Zealand, 7. Korea, 8. England, 9. Spain, 10. Japan.