China

Back in action: Argentina's Luciana Aymar (right), celebrating her 35th birthday, plays in today's final, Great Britain's Georgie Twigg plays in the bronze medal game - hockeyimages.co.ukLONDON, August 10 - Britain are looking to win their first Olympic medal in women's hockey since Barcelona 1992 and New Zealand for their first ever.

Olympic champions Netherlands will try to deny world champions Argentina their first Olympic title on the final day of women's hockey at the Riverbank Arena.

LONDON, August 6 - The semi-final and ranking match lineup for the women's hockey competition at the 2012 Olympic Games is now known: 

Wednesday August 8

08:30 Women's 9-10 Japan vs South Africa
11:30 Women's  7-8 Korea vs Germany
15:30 Women's Semifinal Netherlands vs New Zealand
20:00 Women's Semifinal Argentina vs Great Britain

Friday August 10

08:30 Women's 11-12 Belgium vs United StatesS
11:30 Women's 5-6 China vs Australia
15:30 Women's Bronze Medal 
20:00 Women's Gold Medal Match

Goal: Japan celebrate their winning strike vs China - hockeyimages.co.ukLONDON, August 6 - Japan have defeated Beijing Olympic silver medallists China 1-0, a result which ensures Great Britain a women's hockey Olympic Games semi-final place ahead of their clash with the Netherlands at 7pm tonight.

Rika Komazawa scrambled in the second half goal and the Riverbank Arena cheered almost as loudly as when GB men drew level with Australia the previous evening.

Sakiyo Asano also made a string of fine saves in the Japanese goal against a largely unadventurous China attack.

Back on the field: Kate Walsh plays against Japan with a protective mask after breaking her jaw jaw six days before - hockeyimages.co.ukLONDON, August 4, Great Britain will probably need to take at least a point off defending Olympic and European champions the Netherlands on Monday, if they are to make the Olympic Games hockey semi-finals.

China put a major speedbump on what had seemed like a smooth GB road to the semis, shocking the hosts 2-1. Even the return of injured skipper Kate Walsh, just six days after breaking her jaw, wasn't enough to secure the draw against China that would have booked a semi-final place ahead of the tough Dutch game.

Opposite fortunes: Germany's 2-0 win over South Africa keeps them in medal contention. South Africa will be playing for the minor placings. South Africa's Marsha Marescia is chased by Germany's Jennifer Plass - hockeyimages.co.ukLONDON, August 2 - Pool B is shaping up as the closest in the London 2012 Olympic Games hockey tournament with four sides on six points after the conclusion of the third round of pool games.

Argentina's 2-1 win over New Zealand puts them in top place on goal difference ahead of New Zealand, Australia and Germany. The USA, on three points can still make the semi-finals. But South Africa, without a point, will be playing for the minor rankings.

Action in the China goalmouthLONDON, July 31 - World No.16 Belgium earned their first point in Olympic competition with a 0-0 draw against Beijing 2008 silver medallists China in the second round of women's hockey pool matches at the Riverbank Arena on Tuesday. 

The lowest-ranked team in the competition started positively, looking to attack as often as possible, and their first chance came in the fifth minute. Anouk Raes  played a ball across China's circle but could not find another Belgian stick. 

Winning start: China fans fly the flag - hockeyimages.co.ukLONDON, 29 July - China got their London 2012 Olympic campaign off to a winning start with a 4-0 victory over Asian rivals Korea in women's hockey at the Riverbank Arena on Sunday.

It was Beijing 2008 runners-up China who made the breakthrough nine minutes before half-time, Ma Yibo (CHN) scoring with a drag flick into the top right corner.

Minutes later Korea created their best opportunity of the first half from a fast breakaway down the left. Kim Darae's reverse stick shot forced a save from goalkeeper Zhang Yimeng (CHN).

Record beckons: Dutch corner ace Maartje Paumen (left)) is just two goals behind Alyson Annan's all-time Olympic goal-scoring record. Netherlands play Belgium at 10.45 Sunday July 29 - pic by Andy SmithRecords under threat on the opening day of the women's hockey tournament of the Olympic Games of the XXXth Olympiad include Alyson Annan's all-time Olympic scoring record of 13 goals. 

The tournament starts on Sunday at 8.30am with a trans-Tasman clash between Australia and New Zealand.

The Netherlands, with Maartje Paumen only two goals behind Annan's record, play Belgium at 10.45am. Hosts Great Britain start their campaign with a match against Japan at 7pm.

Natascha Keller should become the first woman to play hockey in five Olympic Games when she takes the field for Germany against the USA at 9.10pm.

Here is the full schedule and some quick facts on each of Sunday's matches: