World Cup hockey qualifier groupings

India and Spain will be looking to bounce back from poor Olympic performances when they return to the international stage this summer at the men's World Cup hockey qualifying tournament in Edinburgh, from July 17-29.

Eight times gold medallists India, who finished a disappointing seventh in the Sydney Olympics, are placed in Group A with Egypt, Wales and the United States.

The 16-nation tournament will see Spain play in Group C against Japan, Chile and their Scottish hosts.

Spain won silver at the Atlanta Olympics and the 1998 World Cup in Tthe Netherlands, but slid to ninth position in Sydney.

The top nine teams at the Edinburgh tournament in July will qualify for the World Cup to be held at Kuala Lumpur in July 2002.

World Cup hosts Malaysia and the top six teams from Sydney -- The Netherlands, South Korea, Australia, Pakistan, Germany and Britain -- have qualified directly.

The groupings:

Group A - Egypt, India, U.S, Wales

Group B - Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, France

Group C - Chile, Japan, Scotland, Spain

Group D - Canada, Poland, Russia, Zimbabwe